Let an auth manager filter dags in SQL instead of materializing every id

airflow-core/src/airflow/api_fastapi/auth/managers/base_auth_manager.py

@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@
     from collections.abc import Sequence
 
     from fastapi import FastAPI
-    from sqlalchemy import Row
+    from sqlalchemy import Row, Select
     from sqlalchemy.orm import Session
     from starlette.middleware import _MiddlewareFactory
 
@@ -625,6 +625,33 @@ def _is_authorized_connection(conn_id: str):
 
         return {conn_id for conn_id in conn_ids if _is_authorized_connection(conn_id)}
 
+    def get_authorized_dag_ids_select(
+        self,
+        *,
+        user: T,
+        method: ResourceMethod = "GET",
+    ) -> Select | None:
+        """
+        Get a select of the Dag ids the user has access to, to be used as a subquery.
+
+        Returning ``None``, the default, makes the API materialize the whole authorized set
+        through :meth:`get_authorized_dag_ids` instead. Auth managers that keep their grants in
+        the Airflow metadata database can return a select here, which the API applies as
+        ``dag_id IN (subquery)`` so that filtering and pagination happen in one statement rather
+        than after every authorized Dag id has been loaded into memory.
+
+        The select must produce a single column of Dag ids.
+
+        Returning a select replaces :meth:`get_authorized_dag_ids` entirely, including its
+        per-team grouping, so a multi-team deployment has to scope the select itself. Join
+        ``DagBundleModel`` and ``dag_bundle_team_association_table`` the way
+        :meth:`get_authorized_dag_ids` does, or return ``None`` and keep the default fan-out.
+
+        :param user: the user
+        :param method: the method to filter on
+        """
+        return None
+
     @provide_session
     def get_authorized_dag_ids(
         self,

airflow-core/src/airflow/api_fastapi/common/db/dags.py

@@ -37,28 +37,31 @@
 
 
 def generate_dag_with_latest_run_query(
-    max_run_filters: list[BaseParam], order_by: SortParam, *, dag_ids: set[str] | None = None
+    max_run_filters: list[BaseParam],
+    order_by: SortParam,
+    *,
+    dag_ids: set[str] | Select | None = None,
 ) -> Select:
     """
     Generate a query to fetch Dags with their latest run.
 
     :param max_run_filters: List of filters to apply to the latest run
     :param order_by: Sort parameter for ordering results
-    :param dag_ids: Optional set of Dag IDs to limit the query to. When provided, both the main
-        Dag query and the subquery for finding the latest runs will be filtered to
-        only these Dag IDs, improving performance when users have limited Dag access.
+    :param dag_ids: Optional set of Dag IDs, or a select producing them, to limit the query
+        to. When provided, both the main Dag query and the subquery for finding the latest
+        runs are filtered to those Dag IDs.
     :return: SQLAlchemy Select statement
     """
     query = select(DagModel).options(selectinload(DagModel.tags))
 
     # Filter main query by dag_ids if provided
     if dag_ids is not None:
-        query = query.where(DagModel.dag_id.in_(dag_ids or set()))
+        query = query.where(DagModel.dag_id.in_(dag_ids))
 
     # Also filter the subquery for finding latest runs
     max_run_id_query_stmt = select(DagRun.dag_id, func.max(DagRun.id).label("max_dag_run_id"))
     if dag_ids is not None:
-        max_run_id_query_stmt = max_run_id_query_stmt.where(DagRun.dag_id.in_(dag_ids or set()))
+        max_run_id_query_stmt = max_run_id_query_stmt.where(DagRun.dag_id.in_(dag_ids))
     max_run_id_query = max_run_id_query_stmt.group_by(DagRun.dag_id).subquery(name="mrq")
 
     has_max_run_filter = False

airflow-core/src/airflow/api_fastapi/core_api/routes/public/dags.py

@@ -146,7 +146,7 @@ def get_dags(
             last_dag_run_state,
         ],
         order_by=order_by,
-        dag_ids=readable_dags_filter.value,
+        dag_ids=readable_dags_filter.permitted,
     )
 
     dags_select, total_entries = paginated_select(

airflow-core/src/airflow/api_fastapi/core_api/routes/ui/dags.py

@@ -152,7 +152,7 @@ def get_dags(
             last_dag_run_state,
         ],
         order_by=order_by,
-        dag_ids=readable_dags_filter.value,
+        dag_ids=readable_dags_filter.permitted,
     )
 
     dags_select, total_entries = paginated_select(

airflow-core/src/airflow/api_fastapi/core_api/security.py

@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@
 from pydantic import NonNegativeInt, TypeAdapter, ValidationError
 from sqlalchemy import or_, select
 from sqlalchemy.orm import Session
+from sqlalchemy.sql import Select
 
 from airflow.api_fastapi.app import get_auth_manager
 from airflow.api_fastapi.auth.managers.base_auth_manager import (
@@ -80,8 +81,6 @@
 from airflow.models.xcom import XComModel
 
 if TYPE_CHECKING:
-    from sqlalchemy.sql import Select
-
     from airflow.api_fastapi.auth.managers.base_auth_manager import ResourceMethod
 
 
@@ -246,23 +245,61 @@ def inner(
 class PermittedDagFilter(OrmClause[set[str]]):
     """A parameter that filters the permitted dags for the user."""
 
+    def __init__(
+        self,
+        value: set[str] | None = None,
+        *,
+        subquery: Select | None = None,
+        materialize: Callable[[], set[str]] | None = None,
+    ):
+        self._materialized = value
+        self._subquery = subquery
+        self._materialize = materialize
+
+    @property
+    def value(self) -> set[str] | None:
+        """
+        The permitted dag ids.
+
+        Reading this materializes the whole authorized set when the auth manager answered
+        with a subquery, since callers that ask for the ids need them in memory.
+        """
+        if self._materialized is None and self._materialize is not None:
+            self._materialized = self._materialize()
+        return self._materialized
+
+    @value.setter
+    def value(self, value: set[str] | None) -> None:
+        self._materialized = value
+
+    @property
+    def permitted(self) -> set[str] | Select:
+        """
+        The operand for ``in_()``, preferring the subquery so nothing is materialized.
+
+        Not ``self.value or set()``: a select has no truth value, and an empty set is a
+        legitimate answer meaning nothing is permitted.
+        """
+        if self._subquery is not None:
+            return self._subquery
+        return self.value if self.value is not None else set()
+
     def to_orm(self, select: Select) -> Select:
-        # self.value may be None (OrmClause holds Optional), ensure we pass an Iterable to in_
-        return select.where(DagModel.dag_id.in_(self.value or set()))
+        return select.where(DagModel.dag_id.in_(self.permitted))
 
 
 class PermittedDagRunFilter(PermittedDagFilter):
     """A parameter that filters the permitted dag runs for the user."""
 
     def to_orm(self, select: Select) -> Select:
-        return select.where(DagRun.dag_id.in_(self.value or set()))
+        return select.where(DagRun.dag_id.in_(self.permitted))
 
 
 class PermittedDagWarningFilter(PermittedDagFilter):
     """A parameter that filters the permitted dag warnings for the user."""
 
     def to_orm(self, select: Select) -> Select:
-        return select.where(DagWarning.dag_id.in_(self.value or set()))
+        return select.where(DagWarning.dag_id.in_(self.permitted))
 
 
 class PermittedEventLogFilter(PermittedDagFilter):
@@ -273,7 +310,7 @@ def __init__(self, value: set[str] | None = None, *, include_non_dag_logs: bool
         self.include_non_dag_logs = include_non_dag_logs
 
     def to_orm(self, select: Select) -> Select:
-        permitted_dag_logs = Log.dag_id.in_(self.value or set())
+        permitted_dag_logs = Log.dag_id.in_(self.permitted)
         if not self.include_non_dag_logs:
             return select.where(permitted_dag_logs)
         # Event logs not related to a Dag have dag_id as None. They record Connection,
@@ -288,35 +325,35 @@ class PermittedTIFilter(PermittedDagFilter):
     """A parameter that filters the permitted task instances for the user."""
 
     def to_orm(self, select: Select) -> Select:
-        return select.where(TI.dag_id.in_(self.value or set()))
+        return select.where(TI.dag_id.in_(self.permitted))
 
 
 class PermittedXComFilter(PermittedDagFilter):
     """A parameter that filters the permitted XComs for the user."""
 
     def to_orm(self, select: Select) -> Select:
-        return select.where(XComModel.dag_id.in_(self.value or set()))
+        return select.where(XComModel.dag_id.in_(self.permitted))
 
 
 class PermittedTagFilter(PermittedDagFilter):
     """A parameter that filters the permitted dag tags for the user."""
 
     def to_orm(self, select: Select) -> Select:
-        return select.where(DagTag.dag_id.in_(self.value or set()))
+        return select.where(DagTag.dag_id.in_(self.permitted))
 
 
 class PermittedDagVersionFilter(PermittedDagFilter):
     """A parameter that filters the permitted dag versions for the user."""
 
     def to_orm(self, select: Select) -> Select:
-        return select.where(DagVersion.dag_id.in_(self.value or set()))
+        return select.where(DagVersion.dag_id.in_(self.permitted))
 
 
 class PermittedBackfillFilter(PermittedDagFilter):
     """A parameter that filters the permitted backfills for the user."""
 
     def to_orm(self, select: Select) -> Select:
-        return select.where(Backfill.dag_id.in_(self.value or set()))
+        return select.where(Backfill.dag_id.in_(self.permitted))
 
 
 def permitted_dag_filter_factory(
@@ -333,8 +370,13 @@ def depends_permitted_dags_filter(
         user: GetUserDep,
         auth_manager: AuthManagerDep,
     ) -> PermittedDagFilter:
-        authorized_dags: set[str] = auth_manager.get_authorized_dag_ids(user=user, method=method)
-        return filter_class(authorized_dags)
+        subquery = auth_manager.get_authorized_dag_ids_select(user=user, method=method)
+        if subquery is not None:
+            return filter_class(
+                subquery=subquery,
+                materialize=lambda: auth_manager.get_authorized_dag_ids(user=user, method=method),
+            )
+        return filter_class(auth_manager.get_authorized_dag_ids(user=user, method=method))
 
     return depends_permitted_dags_filter
 

airflow-core/tests/unit/api_fastapi/auth/managers/test_base_auth_manager.py

@@ -594,6 +594,10 @@ def side_effect_func(
         result = auth_manager.get_authorized_dag_ids(user=user, session=session)
         assert result == expected
 
+    def test_get_authorized_dag_ids_select_defaults_to_none(self, auth_manager):
+        """Returning None is what keeps every existing manager on the materializing path."""
+        assert auth_manager.get_authorized_dag_ids_select(user=Mock()) is None
+
     @pytest.mark.parametrize(
         ("access_per_connection", "access_per_team", "rows", "expected"),
         [

airflow-core/tests/unit/api_fastapi/core_api/test_security.py

@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@
 import pytest
 from fastapi import HTTPException, Request
 from jwt import ExpiredSignatureError, InvalidTokenError
+from sqlalchemy import false, select
 from sqlalchemy.orm import Session
 
 from airflow import settings
@@ -42,6 +43,8 @@
 from airflow.api_fastapi.core_api.datamodels.pools import PoolBody
 from airflow.api_fastapi.core_api.datamodels.variables import VariableBody
 from airflow.api_fastapi.core_api.security import (
+    PermittedDagFilter,
+    PermittedDagRunFilter,
     _build_dag_run_access_requests,
     get_user,
     is_safe_url,
@@ -56,10 +59,11 @@
     requires_access_variable_bulk,
     resolve_user_from_token,
 )
-from airflow.models import Connection, Pool, Variable
+from airflow.models import Connection, DagModel, Pool, Variable
 from airflow.models.backfill import Backfill
-from airflow.models.dag import DagModel
-from airflow.models.dagbundle import DagBundleModel
+from airflow.models.dag import DagTag
+from airflow.models.dagbundle import DagBundleModel, dag_bundle_team_association_table
+from airflow.models.dagrun import DagRun
 from airflow.models.team import Team
 
 from tests_common.test_utils.asserts import assert_queries_count
@@ -1505,3 +1509,87 @@ def test_auth_manager_from_app_integration_with_test_client(self, test_client):
         assert auth_manager is not None
         assert hasattr(auth_manager, "get_url_login")
         assert hasattr(auth_manager, "get_url_logout")
+
+
+class TestPermittedDagFilterSubquery:
+    """A manager keeping grants in the metadata database can hand back a select instead of a set.
+
+    Without this the whole authorized set is loaded into memory before pagination is applied,
+    which is what makes a list view cost O(all dags) even when the grants are already in SQL.
+    """
+
+    @staticmethod
+    def _compiled(orm_clause) -> str:
+        stmt = orm_clause.to_orm(select(DagModel.dag_id))
+        return str(stmt.compile(compile_kwargs={"literal_binds": True}))
+
+    def test_a_set_still_becomes_an_in_list(self):
+        sql = self._compiled(PermittedDagFilter({"dag_a", "dag_b"}))
+        assert "IN (" in sql
+        assert "SELECT" in sql.split("IN (", 1)[1] or "dag_a" in sql
+
+    def test_a_select_becomes_a_subquery_rather_than_a_materialized_set(self):
+        sql = self._compiled(PermittedDagFilter(subquery=select(DagModel.dag_id).where(DagModel.is_paused)))
+        after_in = sql.split("IN (", 1)[1]
+        assert after_in.lstrip().upper().startswith("SELECT"), sql
+
+    def test_none_permits_nothing(self):
+        """None has to stay deny-all; an empty select is a legitimate value, so `or` would be wrong."""
+        sql = self._compiled(PermittedDagFilter(None))
+        assert "IN (" in sql
+
+    def test_an_empty_select_is_not_treated_as_no_value(self):
+        empty = select(DagModel.dag_id).where(false())
+        sql = self._compiled(PermittedDagFilter(subquery=empty))
+        after_in = sql.split("IN (", 1)[1]
+        assert after_in.lstrip().upper().startswith("SELECT"), sql
+
+    def test_the_subquery_reaches_the_dag_run_filter_too(self):
+        """Every permitted-* filter inherits the behaviour, so they all get it at once."""
+        stmt = PermittedDagRunFilter(subquery=select(DagModel.dag_id)).to_orm(select(DagRun.dag_id))
+        sql = str(stmt.compile(compile_kwargs={"literal_binds": True}))
+        after_in = sql.split("IN (", 1)[1]
+        assert after_in.lstrip().upper().startswith("SELECT"), sql
+
+    def test_a_tag_based_manager_needs_no_fab(self):
+        """The docs point custom managers at Dag attributes like tags, which live in the database.
+
+        Without a select such a manager has to load every dag id carrying the tag into memory
+        before the API can page over them.
+        """
+        by_tag = select(DagTag.dag_id).where(DagTag.name.in_({"team-a", "team-b"}))
+        sql = self._compiled(PermittedDagFilter(subquery=by_tag))
+        after_in = sql.split("IN (", 1)[1]
+        assert after_in.lstrip().upper().startswith("SELECT"), sql
+        assert "dag_tag" in sql
+
+    def test_a_team_scoped_select_stays_one_statement(self):
+        """Returning a select replaces the per-team fan-out, so the select carries the scoping."""
+        by_team = (
+            select(DagModel.dag_id)
+            .join(DagBundleModel, DagModel.bundle_name == DagBundleModel.name)
+            .join(
+                dag_bundle_team_association_table,
+                DagBundleModel.name == dag_bundle_team_association_table.c.dag_bundle_name,
+            )
+            .where(dag_bundle_team_association_table.c.team_name == "team-a")
+        )
+        sql = self._compiled(PermittedDagFilter(subquery=by_team))
+        after_in = sql.split("IN (", 1)[1]
+        assert after_in.lstrip().upper().startswith("SELECT"), sql
+        assert "team_name" in sql
+
+    def test_reading_value_materializes_only_when_asked(self):
+        """Callers that need the ids still get them, and nothing is loaded until one asks."""
+        calls = []
+
+        def materialize() -> set[str]:
+            calls.append(1)
+            return {"dag_a"}
+
+        f = PermittedDagFilter(subquery=select(DagModel.dag_id), materialize=materialize)
+        self._compiled(f)
+        assert calls == []
+        assert f.value == {"dag_a"}
+        assert f.value == {"dag_a"}
+        assert calls == [1]