diff --git a/src/core/context.zig b/src/core/context.zig
index 903bd6d..3d9f0db 100644
--- a/src/core/context.zig
+++ b/src/core/context.zig
@@ -87,6 +87,16 @@ pub const Context = struct {
     /// Whether the entire screen needs redraw
     full_redraw: bool,
 
+    // =========================================================================
+    // Dirty Panel System (granularity per named panel)
+    // =========================================================================
+
+    /// Registered panel areas by name (e.g., "who_list", "doc_detail")
+    panel_areas: std.StringHashMapUnmanaged(Layout.Rect),
+
+    /// Dirty flags per panel (true = needs redraw)
+    dirty_panels: std.StringHashMapUnmanaged(bool),
+
     /// Frame statistics
     stats: FrameStats,
 
@@ -157,6 +167,8 @@ pub const Context = struct {
             .height = height,
             .dirty_rects = .{},
             .full_redraw = true,
+            .panel_areas = .{},
+            .dirty_panels = .{},
             .stats = .{},
             .focus = FocusSystem.init(),
         };
@@ -177,6 +189,8 @@ pub const Context = struct {
             .height = height,
             .dirty_rects = .{},
             .full_redraw = true,
+            .panel_areas = .{},
+            .dirty_panels = .{},
             .stats = .{},
             .focus = FocusSystem.init(),
         };
@@ -188,6 +202,8 @@ pub const Context = struct {
         self.overlay_commands.deinit(self.allocator);
         self.id_stack.deinit(self.allocator);
         self.dirty_rects.deinit(self.allocator);
+        self.panel_areas.deinit(self.allocator);
+        self.dirty_panels.deinit(self.allocator);
         self.frame_arena.deinit();
     }
 
@@ -238,6 +254,10 @@ pub const Context = struct {
 
         // Reset full_redraw for next frame
         self.full_redraw = false;
+
+        // Clear dirty panel flags AFTER rendering
+        // (renderer uses getDirtyPanelRects during frame)
+        self.clearDirtyPanels();
     }
 
     // =========================================================================
@@ -743,6 +763,132 @@ pub const Context = struct {
         self.width = width;
         self.height = height;
         self.invalidateAll();
+        self.markAllPanelsDirty(); // Resize requires all panels to redraw
+    }
+
+    // =========================================================================
+    // Dirty Panel System (granularity per named panel)
+    //
+    // The application registers panel areas at startup:
+    //   ctx.registerPanelArea("who_list", rect);
+    //
+    // When data changes, the application marks panels dirty:
+    //   ctx.invalidatePanel("who_list");
+    //
+    // The renderer checks which panels are dirty:
+    //   const dirty_rects = ctx.getDirtyPanelRects();
+    //   renderer.clearDirtyRegions(dirty_rects);
+    //
+    // At endFrame(), dirty flags are cleared automatically.
+    // =========================================================================
+
+    /// Register a named panel area. Call at startup or when layout changes.
+    /// The ID should be descriptive (e.g., "who_list", "doc_detail").
+    pub fn registerPanelArea(self: *Self, id: []const u8, rect: Layout.Rect) void {
+        self.panel_areas.put(self.allocator, id, rect) catch {
+            // If we can't register, fall back to full redraw
+            self.full_redraw = true;
+        };
+        // New panels start dirty (need initial draw)
+        self.dirty_panels.put(self.allocator, id, true) catch {};
+    }
+
+    /// Update a panel's rect (e.g., after window resize).
+    /// Does NOT mark the panel dirty - call invalidatePanel separately if needed.
+    pub fn updatePanelArea(self: *Self, id: []const u8, rect: Layout.Rect) void {
+        if (self.panel_areas.getPtr(id)) |ptr| {
+            ptr.* = rect;
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// Mark a panel as needing redraw.
+    /// Call this when data changes that affects the panel's content.
+    pub fn invalidatePanel(self: *Self, id: []const u8) void {
+        if (self.dirty_panels.getPtr(id)) |ptr| {
+            ptr.* = true;
+        } else {
+            // Panel not registered - this is probably a bug
+            // For safety, do full redraw
+            self.full_redraw = true;
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// Check if a panel is marked dirty.
+    pub fn isPanelDirty(self: *Self, id: []const u8) bool {
+        if (self.full_redraw) return true;
+        return self.dirty_panels.get(id) orelse false;
+    }
+
+    /// Mark all registered panels as dirty.
+    /// Use for resize, tab change, or other global invalidation.
+    pub fn markAllPanelsDirty(self: *Self) void {
+        var iter = self.dirty_panels.iterator();
+        while (iter.next()) |entry| {
+            entry.value_ptr.* = true;
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// Get rectangles of all dirty panels (for renderer).
+    /// Returns slice allocated from frame arena (valid until next beginFrame).
+    pub fn getDirtyPanelRects(self: *Self) []const Layout.Rect {
+        if (self.full_redraw) {
+            // Return single rect covering entire screen
+            const full = Layout.Rect{
+                .x = 0,
+                .y = 0,
+                .w = self.width,
+                .h = self.height,
+            };
+            const result = self.frame_arena.alloc_slice(Layout.Rect, 1) orelse return &.{};
+            result[0] = full;
+            return result;
+        }
+
+        // Count dirty panels
+        var dirty_count: usize = 0;
+        var iter = self.dirty_panels.iterator();
+        while (iter.next()) |entry| {
+            if (entry.value_ptr.*) dirty_count += 1;
+        }
+
+        if (dirty_count == 0) return &.{};
+
+        // Allocate result array from frame arena
+        const result = self.frame_arena.alloc_slice(Layout.Rect, dirty_count) orelse return &.{};
+
+        // Fill with dirty panel rects
+        var i: usize = 0;
+        var iter2 = self.dirty_panels.iterator();
+        while (iter2.next()) |entry| {
+            if (entry.value_ptr.*) {
+                if (self.panel_areas.get(entry.key_ptr.*)) |rect| {
+                    result[i] = rect;
+                    i += 1;
+                }
+            }
+        }
+
+        return result[0..i];
+    }
+
+    /// Check if any panel is dirty (useful for skip-redraw optimization).
+    pub fn hasAnyDirtyPanel(self: *Self) bool {
+        if (self.full_redraw) return true;
+
+        var iter = self.dirty_panels.iterator();
+        while (iter.next()) |entry| {
+            if (entry.value_ptr.*) return true;
+        }
+        return false;
+    }
+
+    /// Clear all dirty panel flags.
+    /// Called automatically at endFrame(), but can be called manually if needed.
+    pub fn clearDirtyPanels(self: *Self) void {
+        var iter = self.dirty_panels.iterator();
+        while (iter.next()) |entry| {
+            entry.value_ptr.* = false;
+        }
     }
 
     // =========================================================================