diff --git a/server/api/api.go b/server/api/api.go
index e61aef9..f83f565 100644
--- a/server/api/api.go
+++ b/server/api/api.go
@@ -20,16 +20,30 @@ func Start() {
 	})
 
 	r.Route("/whoami", func(r chi.Router) {
+		r.Use(SessionAuthMiddleware)
+		r.Use(LoginCtx)
 		r.Get("/", Whoami)
 	})
 
 	r.Route("/users", func(r chi.Router) {
+		r.Use(SessionAuthMiddleware)
+
 		r.Get("/", ListUsers)
 		r.Route("/{userID}", func(r chi.Router) {
 			r.Get("/", GetUser)
 		})
 	})
 
+	r.Route("/login", func(r chi.Router) {
+		r.Post("/", Login)
+	})
+
+	r.Route("/logout", func(r chi.Router) {
+		r.Use(SessionAuthMiddleware)
+
+		r.Post("/", Logout)
+	})
+
 	r.Route("/register", func(r chi.Router) {
 		r.Post("/", NewUser)
 	})
diff --git a/server/api/auth.go b/server/api/auth.go
index bf10da3..c20d531 100644
--- a/server/api/auth.go
+++ b/server/api/auth.go
@@ -1,6 +1,206 @@
 package api
 
-import "golang.org/x/crypto/bcrypt"
+import (
+	"context"
+	"crypto/sha256"
+	"encoding/hex"
+	"fmt"
+	"log/slog"
+	"net/http"
+	"os"
+	"time"
+
+	"github.com/golang-jwt/jwt"
+	"github.com/google/uuid"
+	"golang.org/x/crypto/bcrypt"
+)
+
+var jwtSecret = []byte(os.Getenv("JWT_SECRET"))
+
+func hashToken(token string) string {
+	hash := sha256.Sum256([]byte(token))
+	return hex.EncodeToString(hash[:])
+}
+
+func Login(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
+	err := r.ParseMultipartForm(64 << 10)
+	if err != nil {
+		http.Error(w, "Unable to parse form", http.StatusBadRequest)
+		return
+	}
+
+	username := r.FormValue("username")
+	password := r.FormValue("password")
+	if username == "" || password == "" {
+		http.Error(w, "Username and password cannot be empty", http.StatusBadRequest)
+		return
+	}
+
+	user, err := dbGetUserByName(username)
+	if err != nil {
+		http.Error(w, "Invalid username or password", http.StatusUnauthorized)
+		return
+	}
+
+	if err := validatePassword(user.Password, password); err != nil {
+		http.Error(w, "Invalid username or password", http.StatusUnauthorized)
+		return
+	}
+
+	sessionToken := CreateSession(user.ID)
+	http.SetCookie(w, &http.Cookie{
+		Name:     "session_token",
+		Value:    sessionToken,
+		Path:     "/",
+		HttpOnly: true,
+		Secure:   false,
+	})
+
+	slog.Info("auth: login successful", "userid", user.ID, "username", user.Name)
+	w.Write([]byte("Login successful"))
+}
+
+func Logout(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
+	cookie, err := r.Cookie("session_token")
+	if err != nil {
+		http.Error(w, "No session cookie found. You are already logged out", http.StatusBadRequest)
+		return
+	}
+
+	sessionToken := cookie.Value
+	userID, valid := ValidateSession(sessionToken)
+	if !valid {
+		http.Error(w, "Session cookie could not be validated. You are already logged out", http.StatusBadRequest)
+		return
+	}
+
+	user, err := dbGetUser(userID.String())
+	if err != nil {
+		http.Error(w, "Session cookie validated but user could not be found", http.StatusInternalServerError)
+		return
+	}
+
+	DeleteSession(sessionToken)
+
+	cookie.Expires = time.Now()
+	http.SetCookie(w, cookie)
+
+	slog.Debug("auth: logout successful", "user ID", user.ID, "username", user.Name)
+	w.Write([]byte(fmt.Sprintf("%v has been logged out", user.Name)))
+}
+
+func ValidateSession(sessionToken string) (uuid.UUID, bool) {
+	token, err := jwt.Parse(sessionToken, func(token *jwt.Token) (interface{}, error) {
+		if _, ok := token.Method.(*jwt.SigningMethodHMAC); !ok {
+			return nil, fmt.Errorf("unexpected signing method: %v", token.Header["alg"])
+		}
+		return jwtSecret, nil
+	})
+	if err != nil || !token.Valid {
+		slog.Debug("auth: session token invalid, rejecting")
+		return uuid.Nil, false
+	}
+
+	claims, ok := token.Claims.(jwt.MapClaims)
+	if !ok {
+		slog.Debug("auth: could not map claims from JWT")
+		return uuid.Nil, false
+	}
+
+	userIDStr, ok := claims["userid"].(string)
+	if !ok {
+		slog.Debug("auth: userID claim is not a string")
+		return uuid.Nil, false
+	}
+
+	userID, err := uuid.Parse(userIDStr)
+	if err != nil {
+		slog.Debug("auth: failed to parse userID as uuid", "error", err)
+		return uuid.Nil, false
+	}
+
+	hashedToken := hashToken(sessionToken)
+
+	session, err := dbGetSession(hashedToken)
+	if err != nil {
+		slog.Debug("auth: failed to retrieve session from db", "error", err)
+		return uuid.Nil, false
+	}
+
+	slog.Debug("auth: session validated", "userID", session.UserID)
+	return userID, true
+}
+
+func DeleteSession(sessionToken string) bool {
+	hashedToken := hashToken(sessionToken)
+
+	err := dbDeleteSession(hashedToken)
+	if err != nil {
+		slog.Error("auth: failed to delete session", "error", err)
+		return false
+	}
+
+	slog.Debug("auth: session deleted", "token", hashedToken)
+	return true
+}
+
+type contextKey string
+
+const userIDKey contextKey = "userID"
+
+func SessionAuthMiddleware(next http.Handler) http.Handler {
+	return http.HandlerFunc(func(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
+		cookie, err := r.Cookie("session_token")
+		if err != nil {
+			http.Error(w, "Unauthorized", http.StatusUnauthorized)
+			return
+		}
+
+		sessionToken := cookie.Value
+		userID, valid := ValidateSession(sessionToken)
+		if !valid {
+			http.Error(w, "Unauthorized", http.StatusUnauthorized)
+			return
+		}
+
+		// Add username to request context
+		ctx := context.WithValue(r.Context(), userIDKey, userID)
+		next.ServeHTTP(w, r.WithContext(ctx))
+	})
+}
+
+type Session struct {
+	Token  string
+	UserID uuid.UUID
+	Expiry time.Time
+}
+
+func CreateSession(userID uuid.UUID) string {
+	expiry := time.Now().Add(7 * 24 * time.Hour)
+
+	claims := jwt.MapClaims{
+		"userid": userID.String(),
+		"exp":    expiry.Unix(), // 7 day token
+		"iat":    time.Now().Unix(),
+	}
+	token := jwt.NewWithClaims(jwt.SigningMethodHS256, claims)
+	tokenString, err := token.SignedString(jwtSecret)
+	if err != nil {
+		slog.Error("auth: failed to create JWT", "error", err)
+		return ""
+	}
+
+	hashedToken := hashToken(tokenString)
+	session := Session{
+		Token:  hashedToken,
+		UserID: userID,
+		Expiry: expiry,
+	}
+	dbAddSession(&session)
+
+	slog.Debug("auth: new session created", "userid", session.UserID)
+	return tokenString
+}
 
 func hashPassword(password string) (string, error) {
 	hashedPassword, err := bcrypt.GenerateFromPassword([]byte(password),
diff --git a/server/api/db.go b/server/api/db.go
index 11bf2e2..a483cc4 100644
--- a/server/api/db.go
+++ b/server/api/db.go
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ import (
 )
 
 var ErrUserNotFound = errors.New("db: user not found")
+var ErrSessionNotFound = errors.New("db: session not found")
 
 func dbGetUser(id string) (*User, error) {
 	query := `SELECT id, name, password FROM users WHERE id = $1`
@@ -86,3 +87,47 @@ func dbAddUser(user *User) error {
 	slog.Debug("db: user added", "userid", user.ID, "username", user.Name)
 	return nil
 }
+
+func dbAddSession(session *Session) error {
+	query := `INSERT INTO sessions (jwttoken, userid, expiry) VALUES ($1, $2, $3)`
+	_, err := db.Pool.Exec(context.Background(), query, session.Token, session.UserID, session.Expiry)
+	if err != nil {
+		slog.Error("db: failed to add session", "error", err)
+		return fmt.Errorf("failed to add session")
+	}
+
+	slog.Debug("db: session added", "userid", session.UserID)
+	return nil
+}
+
+func dbGetSession(jwtToken string) (*Session, error) {
+	query := `SELECT jwttoken, userid, expiry FROM sessions WHERE jwttoken = $1`
+
+	var session Session
+	err := db.Pool.QueryRow(context.Background(), query, jwtToken).Scan(&session.Token, &session.UserID, &session.Expiry)
+	if errors.Is(err, pgx.ErrNoRows) {
+		slog.Debug("db: session not found")
+		return nil, ErrSessionNotFound
+	} else if err != nil {
+		slog.Error("db: failed to query session", "error", err)
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to query session")
+	}
+
+	slog.Debug("db: session found", "userid", session.UserID)
+	return &session, nil
+}
+
+func dbDeleteSession(jwtToken string) error {
+	query := `DELETE FROM sessions WHERE jwttoken = $1`
+	tag, err := db.Pool.Exec(context.Background(), query, jwtToken)
+	if err != nil {
+		slog.Error("db: failed to delete session", "error", err)
+		return fmt.Errorf("failed to delete session")
+	}
+	if tag.RowsAffected() == 0 {
+		return ErrSessionNotFound
+	}
+
+	slog.Debug("db: session deleted")
+	return nil
+}
diff --git a/server/api/user.go b/server/api/user.go
index 0bed69a..6531e9b 100644
--- a/server/api/user.go
+++ b/server/api/user.go
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 package api
 
 import (
+	"context"
 	"errors"
 	"log/slog"
 	"net/http"
@@ -18,6 +19,33 @@ func Whoami(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 		w.Write([]byte("anonymous"))
 		return
 	}
+
+	slog.Debug("user: returning username", "userid", user.ID, "username", user.Name)
+	w.Write([]byte(user.Name))
+}
+
+func LoginCtx(next http.Handler) http.Handler {
+	return http.HandlerFunc(func(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
+		slog.Debug("user: entering LoginCtx middleware")
+		userID, ok := r.Context().Value(userIDKey).(uuid.UUID)
+		if !ok || userID == uuid.Nil {
+			slog.Debug("user: no user ID provided, assuming anonymous user")
+			next.ServeHTTP(w, r)
+			return
+		}
+
+		slog.Debug("user: fetching user by ID", "user ID", userID)
+		user, err := dbGetUser(userID.String())
+		if err != nil {
+			slog.Error("user: failed to fetch user by ID", "user ID", userID, "error", err)
+			render.Render(w, r, ErrNotFound)
+			return
+		}
+
+		slog.Debug("user: successfully fetched user", "user ID", user.ID, "username", user.Name)
+		ctx := context.WithValue(r.Context(), userKey{}, user)
+		next.ServeHTTP(w, r.WithContext(ctx))
+	})
 }
 
 func ListUsers(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
diff --git a/server/go.mod b/server/go.mod
index 7dfb16f..af69483 100644
--- a/server/go.mod
+++ b/server/go.mod
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ require (
 
 require (
 	github.com/ajg/form v1.5.1 // indirect
+	github.com/golang-jwt/jwt v3.2.2+incompatible // indirect
 	github.com/golang/snappy v0.0.3 // indirect
 	github.com/hailocab/go-hostpool v0.0.0-20160125115350-e80d13ce29ed // indirect
 	github.com/jackc/pgpassfile v1.0.0 // indirect
diff --git a/server/go.sum b/server/go.sum
index e97f764..b8b1f9a 100644
--- a/server/go.sum
+++ b/server/go.sum
@@ -14,6 +14,8 @@ github.com/go-chi/render v1.0.3 h1:AsXqd2a1/INaIfUSKq3G5uA8weYx20FOsM7uSoCyyt4=
 github.com/go-chi/render v1.0.3/go.mod h1:/gr3hVkmYR0YlEy3LxCuVRFzEu9Ruok+gFqbIofjao0=
 github.com/gocql/gocql v1.7.0 h1:O+7U7/1gSN7QTEAaMEsJc1Oq2QHXvCWoF3DFK9HDHus=
 github.com/gocql/gocql v1.7.0/go.mod h1:vnlvXyFZeLBF0Wy+RS8hrOdbn0UWsWtdg07XJnFxZ+4=
+github.com/golang-jwt/jwt v3.2.2+incompatible h1:IfV12K8xAKAnZqdXVzCZ+TOjboZ2keLg81eXfW3O+oY=
+github.com/golang-jwt/jwt v3.2.2+incompatible/go.mod h1:8pz2t5EyA70fFQQSrl6XZXzqecmYZeUEB8OUGHkxJ+I=
 github.com/golang/snappy v0.0.3 h1:fHPg5GQYlCeLIPB9BZqMVR5nR9A+IM5zcgeTdjMYmLA=
 github.com/golang/snappy v0.0.3/go.mod h1:/XxbfmMg8lxefKM7IXC3fBNl/7bRcc72aCRzEWrmP2Q=
 github.com/google/uuid v1.6.0 h1:NIvaJDMOsjHA8n1jAhLSgzrAzy1Hgr+hNrb57e+94F0=
diff --git a/server/main.go b/server/main.go
index 801f78d..8383cac 100644
--- a/server/main.go
+++ b/server/main.go
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ import (
 )
 
 var REQUIRED_ENVS = [...]string{
-	"DATABASE_URL",
+	"DATABASE_URL", "JWT_SECRET",
 }
 
 func checkEnvVars(keys []string) (bool, []string) {