diff --git a/goldens/circular-deps/packages.json b/goldens/circular-deps/packages.json
index 5ed3cb5a827..c103b418d66 100644
--- a/goldens/circular-deps/packages.json
+++ b/goldens/circular-deps/packages.json
@@ -20,11 +20,6 @@
     "packages/core/src/change_detection/change_detector_ref.ts",
     "packages/core/src/render3/view_ref.ts"
   ],
-  [
-    "packages/core/src/change_detection/change_detector_ref.ts",
-    "packages/core/src/render3/view_ref.ts",
-    "packages/core/src/linker/view_ref.ts"
-  ],
   [
     "packages/core/src/change_detection/differs/default_iterable_differ.ts",
     "packages/core/src/change_detection/differs/iterable_differs.ts"
diff --git a/goldens/public-api/core/index.md b/goldens/public-api/core/index.md
index a1bb9e3569c..e96a742a76f 100644
--- a/goldens/public-api/core/index.md
+++ b/goldens/public-api/core/index.md
@@ -322,6 +322,9 @@ export type ContentChild = Query;
 // @public
 export const ContentChild: ContentChildDecorator;
 
+// @public
+export const contentChild: ContentChildFunction;
+
 // @public
 export interface ContentChildDecorator {
     (selector: ProviderToken<unknown> | Function | string, opts?: {
@@ -337,12 +340,44 @@ export interface ContentChildDecorator {
     }): ContentChild;
 }
 
+// @public
+export interface ContentChildFunction {
+    <LocatorT>(locator: ProviderToken<LocatorT> | string, opts?: {
+        descendants?: boolean;
+    }): Signal<LocatorT | undefined>;
+    // (undocumented)
+    <LocatorT, ReadT>(locator: ProviderToken<LocatorT> | string, opts: {
+        descendants?: boolean;
+        read: ProviderToken<ReadT>;
+    }): Signal<ReadT | undefined>;
+    required: {
+        <LocatorT>(locator: ProviderToken<LocatorT> | string, opts?: {
+            descendants?: boolean;
+        }): Signal<LocatorT>;
+        <LocatorT, ReadT>(locator: ProviderToken<LocatorT> | string, opts: {
+            descendants?: boolean;
+            read: ProviderToken<ReadT>;
+        }): Signal<ReadT>;
+    };
+}
+
 // @public
 export type ContentChildren = Query;
 
 // @public
 export const ContentChildren: ContentChildrenDecorator;
 
+// @public (undocumented)
+export function contentChildren<LocatorT>(locator: ProviderToken<LocatorT> | string, opts?: {
+    descendants?: boolean;
+}): Signal<ReadonlyArray<LocatorT>>;
+
+// @public (undocumented)
+export function contentChildren<LocatorT, ReadT>(locator: ProviderToken<LocatorT> | string, opts: {
+    descendants?: boolean;
+    read: ProviderToken<ReadT>;
+}): Signal<ReadonlyArray<ReadT>>;
+
 // @public
 export interface ContentChildrenDecorator {
     (selector: ProviderToken<unknown> | Function | string, opts?: {
@@ -1598,6 +1633,9 @@ export type ViewChild = Query;
 // @public
 export const ViewChild: ViewChildDecorator;
 
+// @public
+export const viewChild: ViewChildFunction;
+
 // @public
 export interface ViewChildDecorator {
     (selector: ProviderToken<unknown> | Function | string, opts?: {
@@ -1611,12 +1649,35 @@ export interface ViewChildDecorator {
     }): ViewChild;
 }
 
+// @public
+export interface ViewChildFunction {
+    <LocatorT>(locator: ProviderToken<LocatorT> | string): Signal<LocatorT | undefined>;
+    // (undocumented)
+    <LocatorT, ReadT>(locator: ProviderToken<LocatorT> | string, opts: {
+        read: ProviderToken<ReadT>;
+    }): Signal<ReadT | undefined>;
+    required: {
+        <LocatorT>(locator: ProviderToken<LocatorT> | string): Signal<LocatorT>;
+        <LocatorT, ReadT>(locator: ProviderToken<LocatorT> | string, opts: {
+            read: ProviderToken<ReadT>;
+        }): Signal<ReadT>;
+    };
+}
+
 // @public
 export type ViewChildren = Query;
 
 // @public
 export const ViewChildren: ViewChildrenDecorator;
 
+// @public (undocumented)
+export function viewChildren<LocatorT>(locator: ProviderToken<LocatorT> | string): Signal<ReadonlyArray<LocatorT>>;
+
+// @public (undocumented)
+export function viewChildren<LocatorT, ReadT>(locator: ProviderToken<LocatorT> | string, opts: {
+    read: ProviderToken<ReadT>;
+}): Signal<ReadonlyArray<ReadT>>;
+
 // @public
 export interface ViewChildrenDecorator {
     (selector: ProviderToken<unknown> | Function | string, opts?: {
diff --git a/packages/core/src/authoring.ts b/packages/core/src/authoring.ts
index 9568d781838..2cd4a6c4e1a 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/authoring.ts
+++ b/packages/core/src/authoring.ts
@@ -13,3 +13,4 @@ export {InputFunction} from './authoring/input/input';
 export {InputOptions, InputOptionsWithoutTransform, InputOptionsWithTransform, InputSignal, InputSignalWithTransform, ɵINPUT_SIGNAL_BRAND_WRITE_TYPE} from './authoring/input/input_signal';
 export {ɵUnwrapDirectiveSignalInputs} from './authoring/input/input_type_checking';
 export {output as ɵoutput, OutputEmitter as ɵOutputEmitter, OutputOptions as ɵOutputOptions} from './authoring/output';
+export {ContentChildFunction, ViewChildFunction} from './authoring/queries';
diff --git a/packages/core/src/authoring/queries.ts b/packages/core/src/authoring/queries.ts
index 58c76351c4e..83724939e76 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/authoring/queries.ts
+++ b/packages/core/src/authoring/queries.ts
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
  * found in the LICENSE file at https://angular.io/license
  */
 
-import {ProviderToken} from '../di';
+import {ProviderToken} from '../di/provider_token';
 import {createMultiResultQuerySignalFn, createSingleResultOptionalQuerySignalFn, createSingleResultRequiredQuerySignalFn} from '../render3/query_reactive';
 import {Signal} from '../render3/reactivity/api';
 
@@ -34,18 +34,6 @@ export interface ViewChildFunction {
    * Initializes a view child query. Consider using `viewChild.required` for queries that should
    * always match.
    *
-   * @usageNotes
-   * Create a child query in your component by declaring a
-   * class field and initializing it with the `viewChild()` function.
-   *
-   * ```ts
-   * @Component({template: '<div #el></div><my-component #cmp />'})
-   * export class TestComponent {
-   *   divEl = viewChild<ElementRef>('el');                   // Signal<ElementRef|undefined>
-   *   cmp = viewChild(MyComponent);                          // Signal<MyComponent|undefined>
-   * }
-   * ```
-   *
    * @developerPreview
    */
   <LocatorT>(locator: ProviderToken<LocatorT>|string): Signal<LocatorT|undefined>;
@@ -55,18 +43,6 @@ export interface ViewChildFunction {
   /**
    * Initializes a view child query that is expected to always match an element.
    *
-   * @usageNotes
-   * Create a required child query in your component by declaring a
-   * class field and initializing it with the `viewChild()` function.
-   *
-   * ```ts
-   * @Component({template: '<div #el></div><my-component #cmp />'})
-   * export class TestComponent {
-   *   divElRequired = viewChild.required<ElementRef>('el');  // Signal<ElementRef>
-   *   cmpRequired = viewChild.required(MyComponent);         // Signal<MyComponent>
-   * }
-   * ```
-   *
    * @developerPreview
    */
   required: {
@@ -160,18 +136,6 @@ export interface ContentChildFunction {
    * Initializes a content child query.
    *
    * Consider using `contentChild.required` for queries that should always match.
-   *
-   * @usageNotes
-   * Create a child query in your component by declaring a
-   * class field and initializing it with the `contentChild()` function.
-   *
-   * ```ts
-   * @Component({...})
-   * export class TestComponent {
-   *   headerEl = contentChild<ElementRef>('h');                    // Signal<ElementRef|undefined>
-   *   header = contentChild(MyHeader);                             // Signal<MyHeader|undefined>
-   * }
-   * ```
    * @developerPreview
    */
   <LocatorT>(locator: ProviderToken<LocatorT>|string, opts?: {descendants?: boolean}):
@@ -183,17 +147,6 @@ export interface ContentChildFunction {
   /**
    * Initializes a content child query that is always expected to match.
    *
-   * @usageNotes
-   * Create a child query in your component by declaring a
-   * class field and initializing it with the `contentChild()` function.
-   *
-   * ```ts
-   * @Component({...})
-   * export class TestComponent {
-   *   headerElElRequired = contentChild.required<ElementRef>('h');   // Signal<ElementRef>
-   *   headerRequired = contentChild.required(MyHeader);            // Signal<MyHeader>
-   * }
-   * ```
    * @developerPreview
    */
   required: {
diff --git a/packages/core/src/core.ts b/packages/core/src/core.ts
index 28a4180eb34..4a3462edca3 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/core.ts
+++ b/packages/core/src/core.ts
@@ -13,10 +13,11 @@
  */
 
 export * from './authoring';
-// Input is exported separately as this file is exempted from JSCompiler's
-// conformance requirement for inferred const exports.
-// See: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1RXb1wYwsbJotO1KBgSDsAtKpduGmIHod9ADxuXcAvV4/edit?tab=t.0
+// Input and query authoring functions are exported separately as this file is exempted from
+// JSCompiler's conformance requirement for inferred const exports. See:
+// https://docs.google.com/document/d/1RXb1wYwsbJotO1KBgSDsAtKpduGmIHod9ADxuXcAvV4/edit?tab=t.0
 export {input} from './authoring/input/input';
+export {contentChild, contentChildren, viewChild, viewChildren} from './authoring/queries';
 
 export * from './metadata';
 export * from './version';
diff --git a/packages/core/src/render3/instructions/queries_signals.ts b/packages/core/src/render3/instructions/queries_signals.ts
index 32e4b236cd5..92473528213 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/render3/instructions/queries_signals.ts
+++ b/packages/core/src/render3/instructions/queries_signals.ts
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@
  */
 
 
-import {ProviderToken} from '../../di';
+import {ProviderToken} from '../../di/provider_token';
 import {QueryFlags} from '../interfaces/query';
 import {createContentQuery, createViewQuery} from '../query';
 import {bindQueryToSignal} from '../query_reactive';
diff --git a/packages/core/test/acceptance/authoring/signal_queries_spec.ts b/packages/core/test/acceptance/authoring/signal_queries_spec.ts
index 511a7ac9e06..b820aef1aff 100644
--- a/packages/core/test/acceptance/authoring/signal_queries_spec.ts
+++ b/packages/core/test/acceptance/authoring/signal_queries_spec.ts
@@ -6,17 +6,12 @@
  * found in the LICENSE file at https://angular.io/license
  */
 
-// TODO: update imports
-import {Component, computed} from '@angular/core';
-import {viewChild} from '@angular/core/src/authoring/queries';
-import {getComponentDef} from '@angular/core/src/render3/definition';
+import {Component, computed, viewChild} from '@angular/core';
 import {TestBed} from '@angular/core/testing';
 
 describe('queries as signals', () => {
   describe('view', () => {
-    // TODO: Enable when `viewChild` is exposed publicly. Right now, compiler will
-    // not detect `viewChild` as it does not originate from a `@angular/core` import.
-    xit('view child', () => {
+    it('view child', () => {
       @Component({
         selector: 'test-cmp',
         standalone: true,
diff --git a/packages/core/test/acceptance/query_signal_spec.ts b/packages/core/test/acceptance/query_signal_spec.ts
index ba078f85c8f..6bb5100d4b7 100644
--- a/packages/core/test/acceptance/query_signal_spec.ts
+++ b/packages/core/test/acceptance/query_signal_spec.ts
@@ -7,9 +7,7 @@
  */
 
 
-import {Component, computed, ContentChild, ContentChildren, Directive, ElementRef, ViewChild, ViewChildren} from '@angular/core';
-// TODO: update imports to the exported authoring functions when those are public
-import {contentChild, contentChildren, viewChild, viewChildren} from '@angular/core/src/authoring/queries';
+import {Component, computed, ContentChild, contentChild, ContentChildren, contentChildren, Directive, ElementRef, ViewChild, viewChild, ViewChildren, viewChildren} from '@angular/core';
 import {TestBed} from '@angular/core/testing';
 import {By} from '@angular/platform-browser';
 
diff --git a/packages/core/test/bundling/animations-standalone/bundle.golden_symbols.json b/packages/core/test/bundling/animations-standalone/bundle.golden_symbols.json
index 5c700f95c8e..e9b650aaa0e 100644
--- a/packages/core/test/bundling/animations-standalone/bundle.golden_symbols.json
+++ b/packages/core/test/bundling/animations-standalone/bundle.golden_symbols.json
@@ -240,7 +240,7 @@
     "name": "GenericBrowserDomAdapter"
   },
   {
-    "name": "INJECTOR2"
+    "name": "INJECTOR"
   },
   {
     "name": "INJECTOR_DEF_TYPES"
diff --git a/packages/core/test/bundling/animations/bundle.golden_symbols.json b/packages/core/test/bundling/animations/bundle.golden_symbols.json
index 11032f793e6..9ed95ad0228 100644
--- a/packages/core/test/bundling/animations/bundle.golden_symbols.json
+++ b/packages/core/test/bundling/animations/bundle.golden_symbols.json
@@ -264,7 +264,7 @@
     "name": "GenericBrowserDomAdapter"
   },
   {
-    "name": "INJECTOR2"
+    "name": "INJECTOR"
   },
   {
     "name": "INJECTOR_DEF_TYPES"
diff --git a/packages/core/test/bundling/cyclic_import/bundle.golden_symbols.json b/packages/core/test/bundling/cyclic_import/bundle.golden_symbols.json
index 7a06e2561be..d8961260037 100644
--- a/packages/core/test/bundling/cyclic_import/bundle.golden_symbols.json
+++ b/packages/core/test/bundling/cyclic_import/bundle.golden_symbols.json
@@ -168,7 +168,7 @@
     "name": "GenericBrowserDomAdapter"
   },
   {
-    "name": "INJECTOR2"
+    "name": "INJECTOR"
   },
   {
     "name": "INJECTOR_DEF_TYPES"
diff --git a/packages/core/test/bundling/defer/bundle.golden_symbols.json b/packages/core/test/bundling/defer/bundle.golden_symbols.json
index 7f62da22b46..6bd1274d546 100644
--- a/packages/core/test/bundling/defer/bundle.golden_symbols.json
+++ b/packages/core/test/bundling/defer/bundle.golden_symbols.json
@@ -198,7 +198,7 @@
     "name": "GenericBrowserDomAdapter"
   },
   {
-    "name": "INJECTOR2"
+    "name": "INJECTOR"
   },
   {
     "name": "INJECTOR_DEF_TYPES"
@@ -1709,6 +1709,9 @@
   {
     "name": "init_queries"
   },
+  {
+    "name": "init_queries2"
+  },
   {
     "name": "init_queries_signals"
   },
diff --git a/packages/core/test/bundling/forms_reactive/bundle.golden_symbols.json b/packages/core/test/bundling/forms_reactive/bundle.golden_symbols.json
index 62c242dad84..3d78d474006 100644
--- a/packages/core/test/bundling/forms_reactive/bundle.golden_symbols.json
+++ b/packages/core/test/bundling/forms_reactive/bundle.golden_symbols.json
@@ -246,7 +246,7 @@
     "name": "GenericBrowserDomAdapter"
   },
   {
-    "name": "INJECTOR2"
+    "name": "INJECTOR"
   },
   {
     "name": "INJECTOR_DEF_TYPES"
diff --git a/packages/core/test/bundling/forms_template_driven/bundle.golden_symbols.json b/packages/core/test/bundling/forms_template_driven/bundle.golden_symbols.json
index 6f8ae661ea9..a3e0622dac2 100644
--- a/packages/core/test/bundling/forms_template_driven/bundle.golden_symbols.json
+++ b/packages/core/test/bundling/forms_template_driven/bundle.golden_symbols.json
@@ -231,7 +231,7 @@
     "name": "GenericBrowserDomAdapter"
   },
   {
-    "name": "INJECTOR2"
+    "name": "INJECTOR"
   },
   {
     "name": "INJECTOR_DEF_TYPES"
diff --git a/packages/core/test/bundling/hello_world/bundle.golden_symbols.json b/packages/core/test/bundling/hello_world/bundle.golden_symbols.json
index 4a18f874c4f..cf34a4e995c 100644
--- a/packages/core/test/bundling/hello_world/bundle.golden_symbols.json
+++ b/packages/core/test/bundling/hello_world/bundle.golden_symbols.json
@@ -111,7 +111,7 @@
     "name": "HelloWorldModule"
   },
   {
-    "name": "INJECTOR2"
+    "name": "INJECTOR"
   },
   {
     "name": "INJECTOR_DEF_TYPES"
diff --git a/packages/core/test/bundling/hydration/bundle.golden_symbols.json b/packages/core/test/bundling/hydration/bundle.golden_symbols.json
index e79edf9c0c9..27576dd6512 100644
--- a/packages/core/test/bundling/hydration/bundle.golden_symbols.json
+++ b/packages/core/test/bundling/hydration/bundle.golden_symbols.json
@@ -195,7 +195,7 @@
     "name": "HydrationFeatureKind"
   },
   {
-    "name": "INJECTOR2"
+    "name": "INJECTOR"
   },
   {
     "name": "INJECTOR_DEF_TYPES"
diff --git a/packages/core/test/bundling/injection/bundle.golden_symbols.json b/packages/core/test/bundling/injection/bundle.golden_symbols.json
index 9b64279c935..f3e27347041 100644
--- a/packages/core/test/bundling/injection/bundle.golden_symbols.json
+++ b/packages/core/test/bundling/injection/bundle.golden_symbols.json
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@
     "name": "EnvironmentInjector"
   },
   {
-    "name": "INJECTOR2"
+    "name": "INJECTOR"
   },
   {
     "name": "INJECTOR_DEF_TYPES"
diff --git a/packages/core/test/bundling/router/bundle.golden_symbols.json b/packages/core/test/bundling/router/bundle.golden_symbols.json
index a479f7f90e4..c8b2c1b4ff3 100644
--- a/packages/core/test/bundling/router/bundle.golden_symbols.json
+++ b/packages/core/test/bundling/router/bundle.golden_symbols.json
@@ -255,7 +255,7 @@
     "name": "INITIAL_VALUE"
   },
   {
-    "name": "INJECTOR2"
+    "name": "INJECTOR"
   },
   {
     "name": "INJECTOR_DEF_TYPES"
diff --git a/packages/core/test/bundling/standalone_bootstrap/bundle.golden_symbols.json b/packages/core/test/bundling/standalone_bootstrap/bundle.golden_symbols.json
index 25822105429..fdc336b7106 100644
--- a/packages/core/test/bundling/standalone_bootstrap/bundle.golden_symbols.json
+++ b/packages/core/test/bundling/standalone_bootstrap/bundle.golden_symbols.json
@@ -150,7 +150,7 @@
     "name": "GenericBrowserDomAdapter"
   },
   {
-    "name": "INJECTOR2"
+    "name": "INJECTOR"
   },
   {
     "name": "INJECTOR_DEF_TYPES"
diff --git a/packages/core/test/bundling/todo/bundle.golden_symbols.json b/packages/core/test/bundling/todo/bundle.golden_symbols.json
index c796f3674f9..260b1826fee 100644
--- a/packages/core/test/bundling/todo/bundle.golden_symbols.json
+++ b/packages/core/test/bundling/todo/bundle.golden_symbols.json
@@ -171,7 +171,7 @@
     "name": "GenericBrowserDomAdapter"
   },
   {
-    "name": "INJECTOR2"
+    "name": "INJECTOR"
   },
   {
     "name": "INJECTOR_DEF_TYPES"