@@ -129,6 +129,48 @@ class GraphBuilder:
     def is_join_required(self) -> bool:
         """Returns True if this graph builder must be joined before building is ended."""
 
+    @property
+    def graph_definition(self) -> GraphDefinition:
+        """The captured graph as an explicit :class:`~graph.GraphDefinition`.
+
+        The returned :class:`~graph.GraphDefinition` is a view of the same
+        graph this builder is producing: nodes added through it appear in
+        subsequent :meth:`complete` and :meth:`debug_dot_print` calls, and
+        the view stays valid even after the builder is closed.
+
+        This lets you mix the capture and explicit APIs on a single graph,
+        for example to inspect what was captured, augment it with extra
+        nodes, or build a conditional body entirely with the explicit API.
+
+        Availability:
+
+        - **Primary builders** (created by :meth:`Device.create_graph_builder`
+          or :meth:`Stream.create_graph_builder`): only after
+          :meth:`end_building`.
+
+        - **Conditional-body builders** (returned by :meth:`if_then`,
+          :meth:`if_else`, :meth:`while_loop`, :meth:`switch`): both before
+          :meth:`begin_building` and after :meth:`end_building`. The body
+          graph already exists when the conditional is created, so you may
+          populate it through this view without ever calling
+          :meth:`begin_building` on the body builder.
+
+        - **Forked builders** (returned by :meth:`split`): never. Forked
+          builders share the primary builder's graph; access it through the
+          primary instead.
+
+        Returns
+        -------
+        GraphDefinition
+            A view of the graph being built.
+
+        Raises
+        ------
+        RuntimeError
+            If the builder is forked, currently building, or (for primary
+            builders) has not started building yet.
+        """
+
     def begin_building(self, mode: str | None='relaxed') -> GraphBuilder:
         """Begins the building process.
 
 
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ from libc.stdint cimport intptr_t
 
 from cuda.bindings cimport cydriver
 
-from cuda.core.graph._graph_definition cimport GraphCondition
+from cuda.core.graph._graph_definition cimport GraphCondition, GraphDefinition
 from cuda.core.graph._utils cimport _attach_host_callback_to_graph
 from cuda.core._resource_handles cimport (
     GraphHandle,
@@ -282,6 +282,64 @@ cdef class GraphBuilder:
         """Returns True if this graph builder must be joined before building is ended."""
         return self._kind == FORKED
 
+    @property
+    def graph_definition(self) -> GraphDefinition:
+        """The captured graph as an explicit :class:`~graph.GraphDefinition`.
+
+        The returned :class:`~graph.GraphDefinition` is a view of the same
+        graph this builder is producing: nodes added through it appear in
+        subsequent :meth:`complete` and :meth:`debug_dot_print` calls, and
+        the view stays valid even after the builder is closed.
+
+        This lets you mix the capture and explicit APIs on a single graph,
+        for example to inspect what was captured, augment it with extra
+        nodes, or build a conditional body entirely with the explicit API.
+
+        Availability:
+
+        - **Primary builders** (created by :meth:`Device.create_graph_builder`
+          or :meth:`Stream.create_graph_builder`): only after
+          :meth:`end_building`.
+
+        - **Conditional-body builders** (returned by :meth:`if_then`,
+          :meth:`if_else`, :meth:`while_loop`, :meth:`switch`): both before
+          :meth:`begin_building` and after :meth:`end_building`. The body
+          graph already exists when the conditional is created, so you may
+          populate it through this view without ever calling
+          :meth:`begin_building` on the body builder.
+
+        - **Forked builders** (returned by :meth:`split`): never. Forked
+          builders share the primary builder's graph; access it through the
+          primary instead.
+
+        Returns
+        -------
+        GraphDefinition
+            A view of the graph being built.
+
+        Raises
+        ------
+        RuntimeError
+            If the builder is forked, currently building, or (for primary
+            builders) has not started building yet.
+        """
+        if self._kind == FORKED:
+            raise RuntimeError(
+                "graph_definition is unavailable on forked graph builders; "
+                "access it through the primary builder instead."
+            )
+        if self._state == CAPTURING:
+            raise RuntimeError(
+                "graph_definition is unavailable while capture is in "
+                "progress; call end_building() first."
+            )
+        if self._kind == PRIMARY and self._state == CAPTURE_NOT_STARTED:
+            raise RuntimeError(
+                "graph_definition is unavailable before begin_building() on "
+                "a primary builder; no graph has been created yet."
+            )
+        return GraphDefinition._from_handle(self._h_graph)
+
     def begin_building(self, mode: str | None = "relaxed") -> GraphBuilder:
         """Begins the building process.
 
 
@@ -5,11 +5,12 @@
 
 import numpy as np
 import pytest
-from helpers.graph_kernels import compile_common_kernels
+from helpers.graph_kernels import compile_common_kernels, compile_conditional_kernels
 from helpers.marks import requires_module
+from helpers.misc import try_create_condition
 
 from cuda.core import Device, LaunchConfig, LegacyPinnedMemoryResource, launch
-from cuda.core.graph import GraphBuilder
+from cuda.core.graph import GraphBuilder, GraphDefinition
 
 
 def test_graph_is_building(init_cuda):
@@ -384,3 +385,190 @@ def test_graph_stream_lifetime(init_cuda):
 
     # Destroy the stream
     stream.close()
+
+
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+# GraphBuilder.graph_definition
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+
+def test_graph_definition_returns_graph_definition_after_end_building(init_cuda):
+    """Primary builder exposes its captured graph as a GraphDefinition after end_building()."""
+    mod = compile_common_kernels()
+    empty_kernel = mod.get_kernel("empty_kernel")
+
+    gb = Device().create_graph_builder().begin_building()
+    launch(gb, LaunchConfig(grid=1, block=1), empty_kernel)
+    launch(gb, LaunchConfig(grid=1, block=1), empty_kernel)
+    gb.end_building()
+
+    gd = gb.graph_definition
+    assert isinstance(gd, GraphDefinition)
+    # The captured graph must contain the launched kernels.
+    assert len(gd.nodes()) == 2
+
+
+def test_graph_definition_raises_before_begin_building(init_cuda):
+    """Primary builder has no graph allocated before begin_building()."""
+    gb = Device().create_graph_builder()
+    with pytest.raises(RuntimeError, match="before begin_building"):
+        _ = gb.graph_definition
+
+
+def test_graph_definition_raises_during_capture(init_cuda):
+    """graph_definition is unsafe while the driver is actively capturing."""
+    gb = Device().create_graph_builder().begin_building()
+    try:
+        with pytest.raises(RuntimeError, match="capture is in"):
+            _ = gb.graph_definition
+    finally:
+        gb.end_building()
+
+
+def test_graph_definition_raises_for_forked(init_cuda):
+    """Forked builders share the primary's graph; their property must raise."""
+    mod = compile_common_kernels()
+    empty_kernel = mod.get_kernel("empty_kernel")
+
+    gb = Device().create_graph_builder().begin_building()
+    launch(gb, LaunchConfig(grid=1, block=1), empty_kernel)
+    primary, sibling = gb.split(2)
+    try:
+        with pytest.raises(RuntimeError, match="forked"):
+            _ = sibling.graph_definition
+    finally:
+        sibling = GraphBuilder.join(primary, sibling)
+        sibling.end_building()
+
+
+def test_graph_definition_shares_ownership(init_cuda):
+    """Closing the builder must not invalidate a held GraphDefinition."""
+    mod = compile_common_kernels()
+    empty_kernel = mod.get_kernel("empty_kernel")
+
+    gb = Device().create_graph_builder().begin_building()
+    launch(gb, LaunchConfig(grid=1, block=1), empty_kernel)
+    gb.end_building()
+
+    gd = gb.graph_definition
+    gb.close()
+    # The shared CUgraph keeps the graph alive.
+    assert len(gd.nodes()) == 1
+
+
+def test_graph_definition_round_trips_through_explicit_api(init_cuda):
+    """Mutating via the explicit API survives complete() and runs correctly."""
+    mod = compile_common_kernels()
+    add_one = mod.get_kernel("add_one")
+
+    launch_stream = Device().create_stream()
+    mr = LegacyPinnedMemoryResource()
+    b = mr.allocate(4)
+    arr = np.from_dlpack(b).view(np.int32)
+    arr[0] = 0
+
+    gb = launch_stream.create_graph_builder().begin_building()
+    launch(gb, LaunchConfig(grid=1, block=1), add_one, arr.ctypes.data)
+    gb.end_building()
+
+    # Add a second add_one through the explicit GraphDefinition view.
+    gd = gb.graph_definition
+    captured_node = next(iter(gd.nodes()))
+    captured_node.launch(LaunchConfig(grid=1, block=1), add_one, arr.ctypes.data)
+    assert len(gd.nodes()) == 2
+
+    graph = gb.complete()
+    graph.launch(launch_stream)
+    launch_stream.sync()
+    assert arr[0] == 2
+
+    b.close()
+
+
+@requires_module(np, "2.1")
+def test_graph_definition_hybrid_conditional_body(init_cuda):
+    """Populate a conditional body entirely through the explicit API.
+
+    This is the headline hybrid flow enabled by the new property:
+    ``if_then`` returns a ``GraphBuilder`` for the body, but instead of
+    calling ``begin_building`` and capturing into it, we reach for
+    ``graph_definition`` and add nodes through the explicit API.
+    """
+    mod = compile_conditional_kernels(int)
+    add_one = mod.get_kernel("add_one")
+    set_handle = mod.get_kernel("set_handle")
+
+    launch_stream = Device().create_stream()
+    mr = LegacyPinnedMemoryResource()
+    b = mr.allocate(4)
+    arr = np.from_dlpack(b).view(np.int32)
+    arr[0] = 0
+
+    gb = Device().create_graph_builder().begin_building()
+    condition = try_create_condition(gb)
+    launch(gb, LaunchConfig(grid=1, block=1), set_handle, condition, 1)
+    body_gb = gb.if_then(condition)
+
+    # Skip body_gb.begin_building() entirely -- the body graph already
+    # exists at conditional-node creation time and is exposed here.
+    body_def = body_gb.graph_definition
+    assert isinstance(body_def, GraphDefinition)
+    assert len(body_def.nodes()) == 0
+    body_def.launch(LaunchConfig(grid=1, block=1), add_one, arr.ctypes.data)
+
+    graph = gb.end_building().complete()
+    graph.launch(launch_stream)
+    launch_stream.sync()
+    assert arr[0] == 1
+
+    b.close()
+
+
+@requires_module(np, "2.1")
+def test_graph_definition_conditional_body_after_capture(init_cuda):
+    """Capture into a conditional body, then augment it via the explicit API."""
+    mod = compile_conditional_kernels(int)
+    add_one = mod.get_kernel("add_one")
+    set_handle = mod.get_kernel("set_handle")
+
+    launch_stream = Device().create_stream()
+    mr = LegacyPinnedMemoryResource()
+    b = mr.allocate(4)
+    arr = np.from_dlpack(b).view(np.int32)
+    arr[0] = 0
+
+    gb = Device().create_graph_builder().begin_building()
+    condition = try_create_condition(gb)
+    launch(gb, LaunchConfig(grid=1, block=1), set_handle, condition, 1)
+    body_gb = gb.if_then(condition).begin_building()
+
+    # Capture one increment into the body.
+    launch(body_gb, LaunchConfig(grid=1, block=1), add_one, arr.ctypes.data)
+    body_gb.end_building()
+
+    # Add a second increment via the explicit API on the same body graph.
+    body_def = body_gb.graph_definition
+    captured_node = next(iter(body_def.nodes()))
+    captured_node.launch(LaunchConfig(grid=1, block=1), add_one, arr.ctypes.data)
+    assert len(body_def.nodes()) == 2
+
+    graph = gb.end_building().complete()
+    graph.launch(launch_stream)
+    launch_stream.sync()
+    assert arr[0] == 2
+
+    b.close()
+
+
+@requires_module(np, "2.1")
+def test_graph_definition_conditional_body_during_capture_raises(init_cuda):
+    """The CAPTURING-state guard fires for conditional bodies too."""
+    gb = Device().create_graph_builder().begin_building()
+    condition = try_create_condition(gb)
+    body_gb = gb.if_then(condition).begin_building()
+    try:
+        with pytest.raises(RuntimeError, match="capture is in"):
+            _ = body_gb.graph_definition
+    finally:
+        body_gb.end_building()
+        gb.end_building()