diff --git a/exe/rdx b/exe/rdx
index 4b8813817..c2bb3a8c6 100755
--- a/exe/rdx
+++ b/exe/rdx
@@ -115,12 +115,10 @@ operation =
     end.parse!
 
     lambda do |graph|
-      require "irb"
-      IRB.setup(nil)
-      IRB.conf[:IRB_NAME] = "rubydex"
-      IRB::Irb.new(IRB::WorkSpace.new(binding)).run(IRB.conf)
+      require "rubydex/console"
+      Rubydex::Console.start(graph)
     rescue LoadError
-      abort("Interactive mode requires `irb` to be in the bundle")
+      abort("Interactive mode requires `irb` >= 1.13 to be in the bundle")
     end
   when "mcp"
     parser = OptionParser.new do |p|
diff --git a/lib/rubydex/console.rb b/lib/rubydex/console.rb
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..4ab87cd70
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/rubydex/console.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,141 @@
+# frozen_string_literal: true
+
+# The console is built on IRB's command and helper-method registration APIs, both introduced in IRB
+# 1.13. Requiring an older or absent IRB raises `LoadError` (`Gem::LoadError` is one), which
+# `exe/rdx` turns into a friendly message rather than a backtrace.
+gem "irb", ">= 1.13"
+require "irb"
+require "irb/command"
+require "irb/helper_method"
+
+module Rubydex
+  # Interactive console backing `rdx console`.
+  #
+  # On top of a normal IRB session (with `graph` in scope so you can call Ruby directly, e.g.
+  # `graph["Foo"]`), it offers two complementary ways to run Cypher against the same graph:
+  #
+  #   # `run("...")` — a method that returns rich Ruby objects for programmatic use: an Array of
+  #   # Hashes keyed by RETURN column, where node columns are live Declaration/Definition/Document
+  #   # handles. Because it's a plain method, the result can be assigned and navigated.
+  #   rubydex(main):001> result = run("MATCH (c:Class)-[:HAS_PARENT]->(p) RETURN c, p")
+  #   rubydex(main):002> result.first["c"].name
+  #
+  #   # `query <CYPHER>` — a command that takes the rest of the line verbatim (no quotes / valid
+  #   # Ruby needed) and prints a formatted table for a quick look.
+  #   rubydex(main):003> query MATCH (n:Class|Module) RETURN n.name ORDER BY n.name
+  #
+  #   # `schema` — prints the queryable schema.
+  #   rubydex(main):004> schema
+  #
+  # So `run` is the programmatic entry point and `query` is the interactive quick-look; they are
+  # deliberately separate rather than one delegating to the other. This is the clean, idiomatic
+  # "query mode": rather than swapping the REPL's evaluator, Cypher lines are simply prefixed with
+  # `query`.
+  #
+  # The `run` helper and the `query`/`schema` commands are registered through IRB's own extension
+  # APIs, so the session itself is a stock IRB workspace (see {.start}).
+  module Console
+    class << self
+      # The graph that `run` and the `query`/`schema` commands operate on. Set by {.start}.
+      attr_accessor :graph
+
+      # Starts an interactive session. `graph` is exposed at the prompt, and `run` plus the
+      # `query`/`schema` commands operate on it via {.graph}.
+      def start(graph)
+        self.graph = graph
+
+        IRB.setup(nil)
+        IRB.conf[:IRB_NAME] = "rubydex"
+        IRB::Irb.new(workspace_for(graph)).run(IRB.conf)
+      end
+
+      # Runs a Cypher query against {.graph} and returns the rows as rich Ruby objects: an Array of
+      # Hashes keyed by RETURN column name. Scalars become String/Integer/true/false/nil, lists
+      # become Arrays, map projections become Hashes, and node columns become live
+      # `Declaration`/`Definition`/`Document` handles. Raises `ArgumentError` on a syntax or
+      # execution error. Callable in the console as `run("MATCH ...")`.
+      def run(cypher)
+        Rubydex::Query.parse(cypher.to_s).run(graph)
+      end
+
+      # Runs a Cypher query against {.graph} and returns the formatted output as a String (`:table`
+      # or `:json`) — the quick-look counterpart of {.run}, used by the `query` command. Raises
+      # `ArgumentError` on a syntax or execution error.
+      def render(cypher, format: :table)
+        Rubydex::Query.parse(cypher.to_s).render(graph, format)
+      end
+
+      # Returns the queryable Cypher schema description as a formatted String.
+      def describe_schema(format: :table)
+        Rubydex::Query.schema(format)
+      end
+
+      private
+
+      # The session workspace. This is deliberately IRB's own default workspace rather than a
+      # hand-rolled binding, because `IRB::WorkSpace.new` derives its binding from a copy of
+      # `IRB::TOPLEVEL_BINDING`, which buys three things a custom binding gets wrong:
+      #
+      #   * `self` is `main` and the cref is `Object`, so `class Foo; end` at the prompt defines
+      #     `::Foo`. A `binding` captured inside `class << self` would define
+      #     `#<Class:Rubydex::Console>::Foo` instead.
+      #   * no caller locals leak in. Deriving from the CLI's `TOPLEVEL_BINDING` would inherit every
+      #     top-level local of `exe/rdx` — including `query` and `schema`, and a local shadows the
+      #     IRB command of the same name (IRB resolves locals before dispatching commands).
+      #   * `_`, `help` and the rest of IRB's own conveniences behave as they do in stock `irb`.
+      #
+      # Only `graph` is injected; `run` reaches the prompt as a registered IRB helper method.
+      def workspace_for(graph)
+        workspace = IRB::WorkSpace.new
+        workspace.local_variable_set(:graph, graph)
+        workspace
+      end
+    end
+
+    # `run(<CYPHER>)` — an IRB helper method, so it is callable bare at the prompt while still
+    # returning a value that can be assigned and navigated.
+    class RunHelper < IRB::HelperMethod::Base
+      description "Run a Cypher query and return the rows as Ruby objects: run(<CYPHER>)"
+
+      def execute(cypher)
+        Console.run(cypher)
+      end
+    end
+
+    # `query <CYPHER>` — runs a Cypher query against the console graph and prints a formatted table
+    # for a quick look. For a result you can assign and navigate, use `run("...")` (see {Console.run}).
+    class QueryCommand < IRB::Command::Base
+      category "Rubydex"
+      description "Run a Cypher query against the graph: query <CYPHER>"
+
+      def execute(arg)
+        cypher = arg.to_s.strip
+        if cypher.empty?
+          warn("Usage: query <CYPHER>")
+          return
+        end
+
+        puts(Console.render(cypher))
+        nil
+      rescue ArgumentError => e
+        warn(e.message)
+        nil
+      end
+    end
+
+    # `schema` — prints the queryable Cypher schema (labels, relationships, properties).
+    class SchemaCommand < IRB::Command::Base
+      category "Rubydex"
+      description "Describe the queryable Cypher schema"
+
+      def execute(_arg)
+        puts(Console.describe_schema)
+        nil
+      end
+    end
+  end
+end
+
+IRB::HelperMethod.register(:run, Rubydex::Console::RunHelper)
+IRB::Command.register(:query, Rubydex::Console::QueryCommand)
+IRB::Command.register(:schema, Rubydex::Console::SchemaCommand)
diff --git a/test/console_test.rb b/test/console_test.rb
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..b6040f4cf
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/console_test.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,113 @@
+# frozen_string_literal: true
+
+require "test_helper"
+require "helpers/context"
+require "json"
+require "rubydex/console"
+
+class ConsoleTest < Minitest::Test
+  include Test::Helpers::WithContext
+
+  def teardown
+    Rubydex::Console.graph = nil
+  end
+
+  def test_run_returns_rich_objects_against_the_console_graph
+    with_graph("class Animal; end\nclass Dog < Animal; end\n") do
+      rows = Rubydex::Console.run("MATCH (c:Class)-[:HAS_PARENT]->(p) WHERE c.name = 'Dog' RETURN c, p")
+
+      assert_kind_of(Array, rows)
+      assert_equal(1, rows.length)
+      # Node columns come back as live handles that can be navigated/assigned.
+      assert_kind_of(Rubydex::Declaration, rows.first["c"])
+      assert_equal("Dog", rows.first["c"].name)
+      assert_equal("Animal", rows.first["p"].name)
+    end
+  end
+
+  def test_run_raises_on_invalid_query
+    with_graph("class Dog; end\n") do
+      error = assert_raises(ArgumentError) { Rubydex::Console.run("MATCH (c RETURN c") }
+      assert_match(/Cypher syntax error/, error.message)
+    end
+  end
+
+  def test_render_returns_formatted_output_for_the_query_command
+    with_graph("class Animal; end\nclass Dog < Animal; end\n") do
+      output = Rubydex::Console.render("MATCH (c:Class)-[:HAS_PARENT]->(p) WHERE c.name = 'Dog' RETURN p.name")
+
+      assert_match(/p\.name/, output)
+      assert_match(/Animal/, output)
+    end
+  end
+
+  def test_render_supports_json_format
+    with_graph("class Dog; end\n") do
+      output = Rubydex::Console.render("MATCH (c:Class {name: 'Dog'}) RETURN c.name", format: :json)
+
+      assert_equal("[{\"c.name\":\"Dog\"}]", output)
+    end
+  end
+
+  def test_describe_schema_lists_relationships
+    output = Rubydex::Console.describe_schema(format: :json)
+    parsed = JSON.parse(output)
+
+    assert(parsed["relationships"].any? { |r| r["type"] == "HAS_PARENT" })
+  end
+
+  def test_commands_and_helpers_are_registered
+    assert_includes(IRB::Command.commands.keys, :query)
+    assert_includes(IRB::Command.commands.keys, :schema)
+
+    # `run` is a helper method rather than a command, so it stays an ordinary expression whose
+    # value can be assigned and navigated at the prompt.
+    assert_includes(IRB::HelperMethod.helper_methods.keys, :run)
+  end
+
+  def test_run_helper_delegates_to_the_console_graph
+    with_graph("class Dog; end\n") do
+      helper = Rubydex::Console::RunHelper.instance
+
+      assert_equal([{ "c.name" => "Dog" }], helper.execute("MATCH (c:Class {name: 'Dog'}) RETURN c.name"))
+    end
+  end
+
+  def test_session_workspace_evaluates_at_top_level
+    # `IRB::WorkSpace` reads IRB.conf[:CONTEXT_MODE] to build its binding; `Console.start` calls
+    # `IRB.setup` before it does.
+    IRB.setup(nil) unless IRB.conf[:CONTEXT_MODE]
+    workspace = Rubydex::Console.send(:workspace_for, :sentinel)
+
+    # `self` must be `main`, as in a stock IRB session — not `Rubydex::Console`.
+    assert_same(TOPLEVEL_BINDING.receiver, workspace.binding.receiver)
+
+    # `graph` is exposed, and nothing else is inherited from the caller's scope. A local named
+    # `query` or `schema` would shadow the IRB command of the same name.
+    assert_same(:sentinel, workspace.binding.eval("graph"))
+    refute_includes(workspace.binding.local_variables, :query)
+    refute_includes(workspace.binding.local_variables, :schema)
+
+    # A class defined at the prompt must land at top level, not under the singleton class of
+    # Rubydex::Console (which would name it "#<Class:Rubydex::Console>::ConsoleWorkspaceProbe").
+    workspace.binding.eval("class ConsoleWorkspaceProbe; end")
+
+    assert(Object.const_defined?(:ConsoleWorkspaceProbe, false))
+    assert_equal("ConsoleWorkspaceProbe", workspace.binding.eval("ConsoleWorkspaceProbe").name)
+  ensure
+    Object.send(:remove_const, :ConsoleWorkspaceProbe) if Object.const_defined?(:ConsoleWorkspaceProbe, false)
+  end
+
+  private
+
+  def with_graph(source)
+    with_context do |context|
+      context.write!("zoo.rb", source)
+      graph = Rubydex::Graph.new
+      graph.index_all(context.glob("**/*.rb"))
+      graph.resolve
+      Rubydex::Console.graph = graph
+      yield
+    end
+  end
+end