diff --git a/src/libstore-tests/dependency-graph.cc b/src/libstore-tests/dependency-graph.cc
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..60dbb1717
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/libstore-tests/dependency-graph.cc
@@ -0,0 +1,97 @@
+#include "nix/store/dependency-graph-impl.hh"
+
+#include <gtest/gtest.h>
+
+namespace nix {
+
+TEST(DependencyGraph, BasicAddEdge)
+{
+    FilePathGraph depGraph;
+    depGraph.addEdge("a", "b");
+    depGraph.addEdge("b", "c");
+
+    EXPECT_TRUE(depGraph.hasNode("a"));
+    EXPECT_TRUE(depGraph.hasNode("b"));
+    EXPECT_TRUE(depGraph.hasNode("c"));
+    EXPECT_FALSE(depGraph.hasNode("d"));
+
+    // Verify edges using high-level API
+    auto successors = depGraph.getSuccessors("a");
+    EXPECT_EQ(successors.size(), 1);
+    EXPECT_EQ(successors[0], "b");
+}
+
+TEST(DependencyGraph, DfsTraversalOrder)
+{
+    // Build a graph: A->B->D, A->C->D
+    // Successors should be visited in distance order (B and C before recursing)
+    FilePathGraph depGraph;
+    depGraph.addEdge("a", "b");
+    depGraph.addEdge("a", "c");
+    depGraph.addEdge("b", "d");
+    depGraph.addEdge("c", "d");
+
+    std::vector<std::string> visitedNodes;
+    std::vector<std::pair<std::string, std::string>> visitedEdges;
+
+    depGraph.dfsFromTarget(
+        "a",
+        "d",
+        [&](const std::string & node, size_t depth) {
+            visitedNodes.push_back(node);
+            return true;
+        },
+        [&](const std::string & from, const std::string & to, bool isLast, size_t depth) {
+            visitedEdges.emplace_back(from, to);
+        },
+        [](const std::string &) { return false; });
+
+    EXPECT_EQ(visitedNodes[0], "a");
+    // B and C both at distance 1, could be in either order
+    EXPECT_TRUE(
+        (visitedNodes[1] == "b" && visitedNodes[2] == "d") || (visitedNodes[1] == "c" && visitedNodes[2] == "d"));
+}
+
+TEST(DependencyGraph, GetSuccessors)
+{
+    FilePathGraph depGraph;
+    depGraph.addEdge("a", "b");
+    depGraph.addEdge("a", "c");
+
+    auto successors = depGraph.getSuccessors("a");
+    EXPECT_EQ(successors.size(), 2);
+    EXPECT_TRUE(std::ranges::contains(successors, "b"));
+    EXPECT_TRUE(std::ranges::contains(successors, "c"));
+}
+
+TEST(DependencyGraph, GetAllNodes)
+{
+    FilePathGraph depGraph;
+    depGraph.addEdge("foo", "bar");
+    depGraph.addEdge("bar", "baz");
+
+    auto nodes = depGraph.getAllNodes();
+    EXPECT_EQ(nodes.size(), 3);
+    EXPECT_TRUE(std::ranges::contains(nodes, "foo"));
+    EXPECT_TRUE(std::ranges::contains(nodes, "bar"));
+    EXPECT_TRUE(std::ranges::contains(nodes, "baz"));
+}
+
+TEST(DependencyGraph, ThrowsOnMissingNode)
+{
+    FilePathGraph depGraph;
+    depGraph.addEdge("a", "b");
+
+    EXPECT_THROW(depGraph.getSuccessors("nonexistent"), nix::Error);
+}
+
+TEST(DependencyGraph, EmptyGraph)
+{
+    FilePathGraph depGraph;
+
+    EXPECT_FALSE(depGraph.hasNode("anything"));
+    EXPECT_EQ(depGraph.numVertices(), 0);
+    EXPECT_EQ(depGraph.getAllNodes().size(), 0);
+}
+
+} // namespace nix
diff --git a/src/libstore-tests/meson.build b/src/libstore-tests/meson.build
index 4d464ad89..b29eddb43 100644
--- a/src/libstore-tests/meson.build
+++ b/src/libstore-tests/meson.build
@@ -56,6 +56,7 @@ subdir('nix-meson-build-support/common')
 sources = files(
   'common-protocol.cc',
   'content-address.cc',
+  'dependency-graph.cc',
   'derivation-advanced-attrs.cc',
   'derivation.cc',
   'derived-path.cc',
diff --git a/src/libstore/dependency-graph.cc b/src/libstore/dependency-graph.cc
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..13c1fa7d9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/libstore/dependency-graph.cc
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+#include "nix/store/dependency-graph-impl.hh"
+
+namespace nix {
+
+// Explicit instantiations for common types
+template class DependencyGraph<StorePath>;
+template class DependencyGraph<std::string>;
+template class DependencyGraph<StorePath, FileListEdgeProperty>;
+
+} // namespace nix
diff --git a/src/libstore/include/nix/store/dependency-graph-impl.hh b/src/libstore/include/nix/store/dependency-graph-impl.hh
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..df5b03303
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/libstore/include/nix/store/dependency-graph-impl.hh
@@ -0,0 +1,231 @@
+#pragma once
+/**
+ * @file
+ *
+ * Template implementations (as opposed to mere declarations).
+ *
+ * This file is an example of the "impl.hh" pattern. See the
+ * contributing guide.
+ *
+ * One only needs to include this when instantiating DependencyGraph
+ * with custom NodeId or EdgeProperty types beyond the pre-instantiated
+ * common types (StorePath, std::string).
+ */
+
+#include "nix/store/dependency-graph.hh"
+#include "nix/store/store-api.hh"
+#include "nix/util/error.hh"
+
+#include <boost/graph/graph_traits.hpp>
+#include <boost/graph/reverse_graph.hpp>
+#include <boost/graph/properties.hpp>
+
+#include <algorithm>
+#include <ranges>
+
+namespace nix {
+
+template<GraphNodeId NodeId, typename EdgeProperty>
+DependencyGraph<NodeId, EdgeProperty>::DependencyGraph(Store & store, const StorePathSet & closure)
+    requires std::same_as<NodeId, StorePath>
+{
+    for (auto & path : closure) {
+        for (auto & ref : store.queryPathInfo(path)->references) {
+            addEdge(path, ref);
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+template<GraphNodeId NodeId, typename EdgeProperty>
+typename DependencyGraph<NodeId, EdgeProperty>::vertex_descriptor
+DependencyGraph<NodeId, EdgeProperty>::addOrGetVertex(const NodeId & id)
+{
+    auto it = nodeToVertex.find(id);
+    if (it != nodeToVertex.end()) {
+        return it->second;
+    }
+
+    auto v = boost::add_vertex(VertexProperty{std::make_optional(id)}, graph);
+    nodeToVertex[id] = v;
+    return v;
+}
+
+template<GraphNodeId NodeId, typename EdgeProperty>
+void DependencyGraph<NodeId, EdgeProperty>::addEdge(const NodeId & from, const NodeId & to)
+{
+    auto vFrom = addOrGetVertex(from);
+    auto vTo = addOrGetVertex(to);
+    boost::add_edge(vFrom, vTo, graph);
+}
+
+template<GraphNodeId NodeId, typename EdgeProperty>
+void DependencyGraph<NodeId, EdgeProperty>::addEdge(const NodeId & from, const NodeId & to, const EdgeProperty & prop)
+    requires(!std::same_as<EdgeProperty, boost::no_property>)
+{
+    auto vFrom = addOrGetVertex(from);
+    auto vTo = addOrGetVertex(to);
+
+    auto [existingEdge, found] = boost::edge(vFrom, vTo, graph);
+    if (found) {
+        if constexpr (std::same_as<EdgeProperty, FileListEdgeProperty>) {
+            auto & edgeFiles = graph[existingEdge].files;
+            edgeFiles.insert(edgeFiles.end(), prop.files.begin(), prop.files.end());
+        }
+    } else {
+        boost::add_edge(vFrom, vTo, prop, graph);
+    }
+}
+
+template<GraphNodeId NodeId, typename EdgeProperty>
+std::optional<typename DependencyGraph<NodeId, EdgeProperty>::vertex_descriptor>
+DependencyGraph<NodeId, EdgeProperty>::getVertex(const NodeId & id) const
+{
+    auto it = nodeToVertex.find(id);
+    if (it == nodeToVertex.end()) {
+        return std::nullopt;
+    }
+    return it->second;
+}
+
+template<GraphNodeId NodeId, typename EdgeProperty>
+const NodeId & DependencyGraph<NodeId, EdgeProperty>::getNodeId(vertex_descriptor v) const
+{
+    return *graph[v].id;
+}
+
+template<GraphNodeId NodeId, typename EdgeProperty>
+bool DependencyGraph<NodeId, EdgeProperty>::hasNode(const NodeId & id) const
+{
+    return nodeToVertex.contains(id);
+}
+
+template<GraphNodeId NodeId, typename EdgeProperty>
+typename DependencyGraph<NodeId, EdgeProperty>::vertex_descriptor
+DependencyGraph<NodeId, EdgeProperty>::getVertexOrThrow(const NodeId & id) const
+{
+    auto opt = getVertex(id);
+    if (!opt.has_value()) {
+        throw Error("node not found in graph");
+    }
+    return *opt;
+}
+
+template<GraphNodeId NodeId, typename EdgeProperty>
+void DependencyGraph<NodeId, EdgeProperty>::computeDistancesFrom(const NodeId & target) const
+{
+    // Check if already computed for this target (idempotent)
+    if (cachedDistances.has_value() && distanceTarget.has_value() && *distanceTarget == target) {
+        return;
+    }
+
+    auto targetVertex = getVertexOrThrow(target);
+    size_t n = boost::num_vertices(graph);
+
+    std::vector<size_t> distances(n, std::numeric_limits<size_t>::max());
+    distances[targetVertex] = 0;
+
+    // Use reverse_graph to follow incoming edges
+    auto reversedGraph = boost::make_reverse_graph(graph);
+
+    // Create uniform weight map (all edges have weight 1)
+    auto weightMap =
+        boost::make_constant_property<typename boost::graph_traits<decltype(reversedGraph)>::edge_descriptor>(1);
+
+    // Run Dijkstra on reversed graph with uniform weights
+    boost::dijkstra_shortest_paths(
+        reversedGraph,
+        targetVertex,
+        boost::weight_map(weightMap).distance_map(
+            boost::make_iterator_property_map(distances.begin(), boost::get(boost::vertex_index, reversedGraph))));
+
+    cachedDistances = std::move(distances);
+    distanceTarget = target;
+}
+
+template<GraphNodeId NodeId, typename EdgeProperty>
+template<typename NodeVisitor, typename EdgeVisitor, typename StopPredicate>
+void DependencyGraph<NodeId, EdgeProperty>::dfsFromTarget(
+    const NodeId & start,
+    const NodeId & target,
+    NodeVisitor && visitNode,
+    EdgeVisitor && visitEdge,
+    StopPredicate && shouldStop) const
+{
+    computeDistancesFrom(target);
+
+    std::function<bool(const NodeId &, size_t)> dfs = [&](const NodeId & node, size_t depth) -> bool {
+        // Visit node - if returns false, skip this subtree
+        if (!visitNode(node, depth)) {
+            return false;
+        }
+
+        // Check if we should stop the entire traversal
+        if (shouldStop(node)) {
+            return true; // Signal to stop
+        }
+
+        // Get and sort successors by distance
+        auto successors = getSuccessors(node);
+        auto sortedSuccessors = successors | std::views::transform([&](const auto & ref) -> std::pair<size_t, NodeId> {
+                                    auto v = getVertexOrThrow(ref);
+                                    return {(*cachedDistances)[v], ref};
+                                })
+                                | std::views::filter([](const auto & p) {
+                                      // Filter unreachable nodes
+                                      return p.first != std::numeric_limits<size_t>::max();
+                                  })
+                                | std::ranges::to<std::vector>();
+
+        std::ranges::sort(sortedSuccessors);
+
+        // Visit each edge and recurse
+        for (size_t i = 0; i < sortedSuccessors.size(); ++i) {
+            const auto & [dist, successor] = sortedSuccessors[i];
+            bool isLast = (i == sortedSuccessors.size() - 1);
+
+            visitEdge(node, successor, isLast, depth);
+
+            if (dfs(successor, depth + 1)) {
+                return true; // Propagate stop signal
+            }
+        }
+
+        return false; // Continue traversal
+    };
+
+    dfs(start, 0);
+}
+
+template<GraphNodeId NodeId, typename EdgeProperty>
+std::vector<NodeId> DependencyGraph<NodeId, EdgeProperty>::getSuccessors(const NodeId & node) const
+{
+    auto v = getVertexOrThrow(node);
+    auto [adjBegin, adjEnd] = boost::adjacent_vertices(v, graph);
+
+    return std::ranges::subrange(adjBegin, adjEnd) | std::views::transform([&](auto v) { return getNodeId(v); })
+           | std::ranges::to<std::vector>();
+}
+
+template<GraphNodeId NodeId, typename EdgeProperty>
+std::optional<EdgeProperty>
+DependencyGraph<NodeId, EdgeProperty>::getEdgeProperty(const NodeId & from, const NodeId & to) const
+    requires(!std::same_as<EdgeProperty, boost::no_property>)
+{
+    auto vFrom = getVertexOrThrow(from);
+    auto vTo = getVertexOrThrow(to);
+
+    auto [edge, found] = boost::edge(vFrom, vTo, graph);
+    if (!found) {
+        return std::nullopt;
+    }
+
+    return graph[edge];
+}
+
+template<GraphNodeId NodeId, typename EdgeProperty>
+std::vector<NodeId> DependencyGraph<NodeId, EdgeProperty>::getAllNodes() const
+{
+    return nodeToVertex | std::views::keys | std::ranges::to<std::vector>();
+}
+
+} // namespace nix
diff --git a/src/libstore/include/nix/store/dependency-graph.hh b/src/libstore/include/nix/store/dependency-graph.hh
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..fb203c6e2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/libstore/include/nix/store/dependency-graph.hh
@@ -0,0 +1,159 @@
+#pragma once
+///@file
+
+#include "nix/store/path.hh"
+#include "nix/util/canon-path.hh"
+
+#include <boost/graph/adjacency_list.hpp>
+#include <boost/graph/dijkstra_shortest_paths.hpp>
+#include <boost/graph/reverse_graph.hpp>
+
+#include <map>
+#include <vector>
+#include <optional>
+#include <concepts>
+
+namespace nix {
+
+class Store;
+
+/**
+ * Concept for types usable as graph node IDs.
+ */
+template<typename T>
+concept GraphNodeId = std::copyable<T> && std::totally_ordered<T>;
+
+/**
+ * Directed graph for dependency analysis using Boost Graph Library.
+ *
+ * @tparam NodeId Node identifier type (e.g., StorePath, std::string)
+ * @tparam EdgeProperty Optional edge metadata type
+ */
+template<GraphNodeId NodeId, typename EdgeProperty = boost::no_property>
+class DependencyGraph
+{
+public:
+    /**
+     * Bundled vertex property. Uses optional for default constructibility.
+     */
+    struct VertexProperty
+    {
+        std::optional<NodeId> id;
+    };
+
+    /**
+     * BGL adjacency_list: bidirectional, vector storage.
+     */
+    using Graph = boost::adjacency_list<boost::vecS, boost::vecS, boost::bidirectionalS, VertexProperty, EdgeProperty>;
+
+    using vertex_descriptor = typename boost::graph_traits<Graph>::vertex_descriptor;
+    using edge_descriptor = typename boost::graph_traits<Graph>::edge_descriptor;
+
+private:
+    Graph graph;
+    std::map<NodeId, vertex_descriptor> nodeToVertex;
+
+    // Cached algorithm results
+    mutable std::optional<std::vector<size_t>> cachedDistances;
+    mutable std::optional<NodeId> distanceTarget;
+
+    // Internal helpers
+    vertex_descriptor addOrGetVertex(const NodeId & id);
+    std::optional<vertex_descriptor> getVertex(const NodeId & id) const;
+    const NodeId & getNodeId(vertex_descriptor v) const;
+    vertex_descriptor getVertexOrThrow(const NodeId & id) const;
+    void computeDistancesFrom(const NodeId & target) const;
+
+public:
+    DependencyGraph() = default;
+
+    /**
+     * Build graph from Store closure (StorePath graphs only).
+     *
+     * @param store Store to query for references
+     * @param closure Store paths to include
+     */
+    DependencyGraph(Store & store, const StorePathSet & closure)
+        requires std::same_as<NodeId, StorePath>;
+
+    /**
+     * Add edge, creating vertices if needed.
+     */
+    void addEdge(const NodeId & from, const NodeId & to);
+
+    /**
+     * Add edge with property. Merges property if edge exists.
+     */
+    void addEdge(const NodeId & from, const NodeId & to, const EdgeProperty & prop)
+        requires(!std::same_as<EdgeProperty, boost::no_property>);
+
+    bool hasNode(const NodeId & id) const;
+
+    /**
+     * DFS traversal with distance-based successor ordering.
+     * Successors visited in order of increasing distance to target.
+     * Automatically computes distances if needed (lazy).
+     *
+     * Example traversal from A to D:
+     *
+     *     A (dist=3)
+     *     ├─→ B (dist=2)
+     *     │   └─→ D (dist=0) [target]
+     *     └─→ C (dist=2)
+     *         └─→ D (dist=0)
+     *
+     * Callbacks invoked:
+     *   visitNode(A, depth=0) -> true
+     *   visitEdge(A, B, isLast=false, depth=0)
+     *   visitNode(B, depth=1) -> true
+     *   visitEdge(B, D, isLast=true, depth=1)
+     *   visitNode(D, depth=2) -> true
+     *   shouldStop(D) -> true [stops traversal]
+     *
+     * @param start Starting node for traversal
+     * @param target Target node (used for distance-based sorting)
+     * @param visitNode Called when entering node: (node, depth) -> bool. Return false to skip subtree.
+     * @param visitEdge Called for each edge: (from, to, isLastEdge, depth) -> void
+     * @param shouldStop Called after visiting node: (node) -> bool. Return true to stop entire traversal.
+     */
+    template<typename NodeVisitor, typename EdgeVisitor, typename StopPredicate>
+    void dfsFromTarget(
+        const NodeId & start,
+        const NodeId & target,
+        NodeVisitor && visitNode,
+        EdgeVisitor && visitEdge,
+        StopPredicate && shouldStop) const;
+
+    /**
+     * Get successor nodes (outgoing edges).
+     */
+    std::vector<NodeId> getSuccessors(const NodeId & node) const;
+
+    /**
+     * Get edge property. Returns nullopt if edge doesn't exist.
+     */
+    std::optional<EdgeProperty> getEdgeProperty(const NodeId & from, const NodeId & to) const
+        requires(!std::same_as<EdgeProperty, boost::no_property>);
+
+    std::vector<NodeId> getAllNodes() const;
+
+    size_t numVertices() const
+    {
+        return boost::num_vertices(graph);
+    }
+};
+
+/**
+ * Edge property storing which files created a dependency.
+ */
+struct FileListEdgeProperty
+{
+    std::vector<CanonPath> files;
+};
+
+// Convenience typedefs
+using StorePathGraph = DependencyGraph<StorePath>;
+using FilePathGraph = DependencyGraph<std::string>;
+using StorePathGraphWithFiles = DependencyGraph<StorePath, FileListEdgeProperty>;
+
+} // namespace nix
diff --git a/src/libstore/include/nix/store/meson.build b/src/libstore/include/nix/store/meson.build
index 5d6626ff8..6e4431da7 100644
--- a/src/libstore/include/nix/store/meson.build
+++ b/src/libstore/include/nix/store/meson.build
@@ -31,6 +31,8 @@ headers = [ config_pub_h ] + files(
   'common-ssh-store-config.hh',
   'content-address.hh',
   'daemon.hh',
+  'dependency-graph-impl.hh',
+  'dependency-graph.hh',
   'derivation-options.hh',
   'derivations.hh',
   'derived-path-map.hh',
diff --git a/src/libstore/meson.build b/src/libstore/meson.build
index d1b3666cc..bdc1c6295 100644
--- a/src/libstore/meson.build
+++ b/src/libstore/meson.build
@@ -277,6 +277,7 @@ sources = files(
   'common-ssh-store-config.cc',
   'content-address.cc',
   'daemon.cc',
+  'dependency-graph.cc',
   'derivation-options.cc',
   'derivations.cc',
   'derived-path-map.cc',