diff --git a/crates/image/src/lib.rs b/crates/image/src/lib.rs
index 6469394..eb476af 100644
--- a/crates/image/src/lib.rs
+++ b/crates/image/src/lib.rs
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
 //! Image decoders — PNG (DEFLATE), JPEG, GIF, WebP — pure Rust.
 
 pub mod deflate;
+pub mod zlib;
diff --git a/crates/image/src/zlib.rs b/crates/image/src/zlib.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..37d627f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/crates/image/src/zlib.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,478 @@
+//! zlib decompression (RFC 1950).
+//!
+//! Parses the zlib header and trailer, delegates to DEFLATE for the actual
+//! compressed data, and verifies the Adler-32 checksum.
+
+use crate::deflate;
+use std::fmt;
+
+// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+// Error type
+// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+/// Errors that can occur during zlib decompression.
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, PartialEq, Eq)]
+pub enum ZlibError {
+    /// Input is too short to contain a valid zlib stream.
+    InputTooShort,
+    /// Header checksum failed (CMF*256 + FLG must be a multiple of 31).
+    InvalidHeaderChecksum,
+    /// Unsupported compression method (only DEFLATE / CM=8 is supported).
+    UnsupportedCompressionMethod(u8),
+    /// Window size exceeds the maximum (32KB / 2^15).
+    InvalidWindowSize(u8),
+    /// Preset dictionary is required but not supported.
+    PresetDictionaryNotSupported,
+    /// Adler-32 checksum of decompressed data does not match the trailer.
+    ChecksumMismatch { expected: u32, actual: u32 },
+    /// Input is too short to contain the Adler-32 trailer.
+    MissingTrailer,
+    /// DEFLATE decompression error.
+    Deflate(deflate::DeflateError),
+}
+
+impl fmt::Display for ZlibError {
+    fn fmt(&self, f: &mut fmt::Formatter<'_>) -> fmt::Result {
+        match self {
+            Self::InputTooShort => write!(f, "input too short for zlib header"),
+            Self::InvalidHeaderChecksum => write!(f, "invalid zlib header checksum"),
+            Self::UnsupportedCompressionMethod(cm) => {
+                write!(f, "unsupported compression method: {cm}")
+            }
+            Self::InvalidWindowSize(cinfo) => {
+                write!(f, "invalid window size: CINFO={cinfo}")
+            }
+            Self::PresetDictionaryNotSupported => {
+                write!(f, "preset dictionary not supported")
+            }
+            Self::ChecksumMismatch { expected, actual } => {
+                write!(
+                    f,
+                    "Adler-32 checksum mismatch: expected {expected:#010x}, got {actual:#010x}"
+                )
+            }
+            Self::MissingTrailer => write!(f, "missing Adler-32 trailer"),
+            Self::Deflate(e) => write!(f, "deflate error: {e}"),
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+impl From<deflate::DeflateError> for ZlibError {
+    fn from(e: deflate::DeflateError) -> Self {
+        Self::Deflate(e)
+    }
+}
+
+pub type Result<T> = std::result::Result<T, ZlibError>;
+
+// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+// Adler-32
+// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+/// Compute the Adler-32 checksum of `data`.
+fn adler32(data: &[u8]) -> u32 {
+    const MOD_ADLER: u32 = 65521;
+
+    let mut a: u32 = 1;
+    let mut b: u32 = 0;
+
+    // Process in blocks to avoid frequent modular reductions.
+    // The maximum block size before a or b can overflow u32:
+    // a accumulates at most 255 per byte, so after n bytes a <= 1 + 255*n.
+    // b accumulates at most a per byte. To keep b < 2^32 we need
+    // n * (1 + 255*n/2) < 2^32, which gives n ~= 5552.
+    const BLOCK_SIZE: usize = 5552;
+
+    for chunk in data.chunks(BLOCK_SIZE) {
+        for &byte in chunk {
+            a += byte as u32;
+            b += a;
+        }
+        a %= MOD_ADLER;
+        b %= MOD_ADLER;
+    }
+
+    (b << 16) | a
+}
+
+// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+// Decompressor
+// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+/// Decompress a zlib-wrapped data stream per RFC 1950.
+///
+/// The input must contain:
+/// - 2-byte zlib header (CMF + FLG)
+/// - DEFLATE compressed data
+/// - 4-byte Adler-32 checksum (big-endian)
+pub fn zlib_decompress(input: &[u8]) -> Result<Vec<u8>> {
+    // Need at least 2 bytes for header + 4 bytes for trailer
+    if input.len() < 6 {
+        return Err(ZlibError::InputTooShort);
+    }
+
+    let cmf = input[0];
+    let flg = input[1];
+
+    // Validate header checksum: (CMF*256 + FLG) must be a multiple of 31
+    let check = (cmf as u16) * 256 + (flg as u16);
+    if !check.is_multiple_of(31) {
+        return Err(ZlibError::InvalidHeaderChecksum);
+    }
+
+    // CMF: lower 4 bits = compression method (CM), upper 4 bits = CINFO
+    let cm = cmf & 0x0F;
+    let cinfo = (cmf >> 4) & 0x0F;
+
+    // Only DEFLATE (CM=8) is supported
+    if cm != 8 {
+        return Err(ZlibError::UnsupportedCompressionMethod(cm));
+    }
+
+    // CINFO is the log2 of the LZ77 window size minus 8.
+    // Maximum is 7 (window = 2^15 = 32768 bytes).
+    if cinfo > 7 {
+        return Err(ZlibError::InvalidWindowSize(cinfo));
+    }
+
+    // FLG bit 5: preset dictionary flag (FDICT)
+    let fdict = (flg >> 5) & 1;
+    if fdict != 0 {
+        return Err(ZlibError::PresetDictionaryNotSupported);
+    }
+
+    // Compressed data starts after the 2-byte header
+    // Adler-32 checksum occupies the last 4 bytes
+    if input.len() < 6 {
+        return Err(ZlibError::MissingTrailer);
+    }
+
+    let compressed = &input[2..input.len() - 4];
+    let trailer = &input[input.len() - 4..];
+
+    // Decompress
+    let decompressed = deflate::inflate(compressed)?;
+
+    // Read expected Adler-32 (big-endian)
+    let expected = ((trailer[0] as u32) << 24)
+        | ((trailer[1] as u32) << 16)
+        | ((trailer[2] as u32) << 8)
+        | (trailer[3] as u32);
+
+    // Verify checksum
+    let actual = adler32(&decompressed);
+    if actual != expected {
+        return Err(ZlibError::ChecksumMismatch { expected, actual });
+    }
+
+    Ok(decompressed)
+}
+
+// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+// Tests
+// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+#[cfg(test)]
+mod tests {
+    use super::*;
+
+    // -- Adler-32 tests --
+
+    #[test]
+    fn adler32_empty() {
+        // Adler-32 of empty data is 1 (a=1, b=0)
+        assert_eq!(adler32(&[]), 0x0000_0001);
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn adler32_single_byte() {
+        // a = 1 + byte, b = 1 + a = 2 + byte
+        // For 'a' (97): a = 98, b = 98. Result = (98 << 16) | 98 = 0x00620062
+        assert_eq!(adler32(b"a"), 0x00620062);
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn adler32_wikipedia_example() {
+        // Known value: Adler-32 of "Wikipedia" = 0x11E60398
+        assert_eq!(adler32(b"Wikipedia"), 0x11E60398);
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn adler32_abc() {
+        // a starts at 1, b starts at 0
+        // After 'a'(97): a=98, b=98
+        // After 'b'(98): a=196, b=294
+        // After 'c'(99): a=295, b=589
+        // Result = (589 << 16) | 295 = 0x024D0127
+        assert_eq!(adler32(b"abc"), 0x024D0127);
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn adler32_large_block() {
+        // Test with data larger than BLOCK_SIZE (5552) to exercise modular reduction
+        let data = vec![0xFF; 10000];
+        let checksum = adler32(&data);
+        // Verify it produces a non-trivial result (not overflow)
+        assert_ne!(checksum, 0);
+        // Verify it's deterministic
+        assert_eq!(adler32(&data), checksum);
+    }
+
+    // -- Error Display tests --
+
+    #[test]
+    fn error_display() {
+        assert_eq!(
+            ZlibError::InputTooShort.to_string(),
+            "input too short for zlib header"
+        );
+        assert_eq!(
+            ZlibError::InvalidHeaderChecksum.to_string(),
+            "invalid zlib header checksum"
+        );
+        assert_eq!(
+            ZlibError::UnsupportedCompressionMethod(15).to_string(),
+            "unsupported compression method: 15"
+        );
+        assert_eq!(
+            ZlibError::InvalidWindowSize(8).to_string(),
+            "invalid window size: CINFO=8"
+        );
+        assert_eq!(
+            ZlibError::PresetDictionaryNotSupported.to_string(),
+            "preset dictionary not supported"
+        );
+        assert_eq!(
+            ZlibError::ChecksumMismatch {
+                expected: 0x12345678,
+                actual: 0xABCDEF01
+            }
+            .to_string(),
+            "Adler-32 checksum mismatch: expected 0x12345678, got 0xabcdef01"
+        );
+        assert_eq!(
+            ZlibError::MissingTrailer.to_string(),
+            "missing Adler-32 trailer"
+        );
+        assert_eq!(
+            ZlibError::Deflate(deflate::DeflateError::UnexpectedEof).to_string(),
+            "deflate error: unexpected end of input"
+        );
+    }
+
+    // -- Header validation tests --
+
+    #[test]
+    fn input_too_short() {
+        assert!(matches!(
+            zlib_decompress(&[]),
+            Err(ZlibError::InputTooShort)
+        ));
+        assert!(matches!(
+            zlib_decompress(&[0x78]),
+            Err(ZlibError::InputTooShort)
+        ));
+        assert!(matches!(
+            zlib_decompress(&[0x78, 0x9C, 0x03, 0x00]),
+            Err(ZlibError::InputTooShort)
+        ));
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn invalid_header_checksum() {
+        // CMF=0x78 (DEFLATE, window=32KB), FLG=0x00 → 0x7800 % 31 = 18 ≠ 0
+        let mut input = vec![0x78, 0x00, 0x03, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x01];
+        assert!(matches!(
+            zlib_decompress(&input),
+            Err(ZlibError::InvalidHeaderChecksum)
+        ));
+        // Fix the checksum by trying various FLG values
+        input[1] = 0x01; // 0x7801 % 31 = 0x7801 = 30721, 30721 % 31 = 0
+        assert!(!matches!(
+            zlib_decompress(&input),
+            Err(ZlibError::InvalidHeaderChecksum)
+        ));
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn unsupported_compression_method() {
+        // CM=15 instead of 8, with valid checksum
+        // CMF = (CINFO << 4) | CM = (7 << 4) | 15 = 0x7F
+        // Need FLG such that (0x7F * 256 + FLG) % 31 == 0
+        // 0x7F00 = 32512, 32512 % 31 = 32512 - 1048*31 = 32512 - 32488 = 24
+        // FLG = 31 - 24 = 7
+        let input = vec![0x7F, 0x07, 0x03, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x01];
+        assert!(matches!(
+            zlib_decompress(&input),
+            Err(ZlibError::UnsupportedCompressionMethod(15))
+        ));
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn invalid_window_size() {
+        // CINFO=8 (invalid, max is 7), CM=8
+        // CMF = (8 << 4) | 8 = 0x88
+        // 0x8800 = 34816, 34816 % 31 = 34816 - 1123*31 = 34816 - 34813 = 3
+        // FLG = 31 - 3 = 28
+        let input = vec![0x88, 0x1C, 0x03, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x01];
+        assert!(matches!(
+            zlib_decompress(&input),
+            Err(ZlibError::InvalidWindowSize(8))
+        ));
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn preset_dictionary_rejected() {
+        // CMF=0x78 (DEFLATE, window=32KB), FLG with FDICT=1
+        // FLG bit 5 = 1, so FLG = 0x20 | adjustment for checksum
+        // 0x7800 + FLG must be multiple of 31
+        // 0x7800 = 30720, 30720 % 31 = 30720 - 990*31 = 30720 - 30690 = 30
+        // Need FLG where (30 + FLG) % 31 == 0 and bit 5 is set
+        // FLG = 1 makes 30721 % 31 = 0, but bit 5 is not set
+        // FLG with bit 5 set: 0x20 = 32, (30 + 32) % 31 = 62 % 31 = 0.
+        let input = vec![0x78, 0x20, 0x03, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x01];
+        assert!(matches!(
+            zlib_decompress(&input),
+            Err(ZlibError::PresetDictionaryNotSupported)
+        ));
+    }
+
+    // -- Decompression tests --
+
+    #[test]
+    fn decompress_empty() {
+        // zlib compressed empty data: header 0x78 0x9C + deflate empty + adler32(empty)
+        // DEFLATE empty: BFINAL=1, BTYPE=01 (fixed), EOB → 0x03, 0x00
+        // Adler-32 of empty = 0x00000001 (big-endian: 00 00 00 01)
+        let input = [0x78, 0x9C, 0x03, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x01];
+        let result = zlib_decompress(&input).unwrap();
+        assert!(result.is_empty());
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn decompress_hello() {
+        // zlib-compressed "Hello" — standard zlib level 6 output
+        let input = [
+            0x78, 0x9C, 0xf3, 0x48, 0xcd, 0xc9, 0xc9, 0x07, 0x00, 0x05, 0x8c, 0x01, 0xf5,
+        ];
+        let result = zlib_decompress(&input).unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(result, b"Hello");
+    }
+
+    /// Build a zlib stream from raw DEFLATE data and the expected decompressed output.
+    fn make_zlib_stream(deflate_data: &[u8], decompressed: &[u8]) -> Vec<u8> {
+        let checksum = adler32(decompressed);
+        let mut stream = vec![0x78, 0x9C]; // CMF=DEFLATE/32KB, FLG=level6
+        stream.extend_from_slice(deflate_data);
+        stream.push((checksum >> 24) as u8);
+        stream.push((checksum >> 16) as u8);
+        stream.push((checksum >> 8) as u8);
+        stream.push(checksum as u8);
+        stream
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn decompress_pangram() {
+        let expected = b"The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog";
+        // Raw DEFLATE for the pangram (verified by deflate::tests::inflate_pangram)
+        let deflate_data = [
+            0x0b, 0xc9, 0x48, 0x55, 0x28, 0x2c, 0xcd, 0x4c, 0xce, 0x56, 0x48, 0x2a, 0xca, 0x2f,
+            0xcf, 0x53, 0x48, 0xcb, 0xaf, 0x50, 0xc8, 0x2a, 0xcd, 0x2d, 0x28, 0x56, 0xc8, 0x2f,
+            0x4b, 0x2d, 0x52, 0x28, 0x01, 0x4a, 0xe7, 0x24, 0x56, 0x55, 0x2a, 0xa4, 0xe4, 0xa7,
+            0x03, 0x00,
+        ];
+        let input = make_zlib_stream(&deflate_data, expected);
+        let result = zlib_decompress(&input).unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(result, expected);
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn decompress_repeated() {
+        let expected: Vec<u8> = b"abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz".repeat(10);
+        // Raw DEFLATE for alphabet repeated (verified by deflate::tests::inflate_alphabet_repeated)
+        let deflate_data = [
+            0x4b, 0x4c, 0x4a, 0x4e, 0x49, 0x4d, 0x4b, 0xcf, 0xc8, 0xcc, 0xca, 0xce, 0xc9, 0xcd,
+            0xcb, 0x2f, 0x28, 0x2c, 0x2a, 0x2e, 0x29, 0x2d, 0x2b, 0xaf, 0xa8, 0xac, 0x4a, 0x1c,
+            0x31, 0x32, 0x00,
+        ];
+        let input = make_zlib_stream(&deflate_data, &expected);
+        let result = zlib_decompress(&input).unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(result, expected);
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn decompress_non_compressed_block() {
+        // zlib stream using a non-compressed DEFLATE block for "Hello"
+        // Header: 0x78, 0x01 (DEFLATE, window=32KB, level=best speed)
+        // DEFLATE: 0x01 (BFINAL=1, BTYPE=00), LEN=5, NLEN=!5, "Hello"
+        // Adler-32 of "Hello" = 0x058C01F5
+        let mut input = vec![0x78, 0x01];
+        input.push(0x01); // BFINAL=1, BTYPE=00
+        input.extend_from_slice(&[5, 0]); // LEN=5
+        input.extend_from_slice(&[0xFA, 0xFF]); // NLEN=!5
+        input.extend_from_slice(b"Hello");
+        input.extend_from_slice(&[0x05, 0x8C, 0x01, 0xF5]); // Adler-32
+        let result = zlib_decompress(&input).unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(result, b"Hello");
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn checksum_mismatch() {
+        // Valid header + valid deflate, but wrong Adler-32
+        let input = [
+            0x78, 0x9C, 0xf3, 0x48, 0xcd, 0xc9, 0xc9, 0x07, 0x00, 0xFF, 0xFF, 0xFF, 0xFF,
+        ];
+        assert!(matches!(
+            zlib_decompress(&input),
+            Err(ZlibError::ChecksumMismatch { .. })
+        ));
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn deflate_error_propagated() {
+        // Valid zlib header but broken DEFLATE data
+        // Header: 0x78, 0x9C
+        // DEFLATE: 0x07 = BFINAL=1, BTYPE=11 (invalid)
+        // Fake trailer: 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x01
+        let input = [0x78, 0x9C, 0x07, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x01];
+        let err = zlib_decompress(&input).unwrap_err();
+        assert!(matches!(
+            err,
+            ZlibError::Deflate(deflate::DeflateError::InvalidBlockType(3))
+        ));
+    }
+
+    // -- Various header configurations --
+
+    #[test]
+    fn different_window_sizes() {
+        // Test that different CINFO values (0-7) are accepted
+        // We just need valid headers — use empty DEFLATE stream
+        for cinfo in 0..=7u8 {
+            let cmf = (cinfo << 4) | 8; // CM=8 (DEFLATE)
+            let fcheck = (31 - ((cmf as u16 * 256) % 31)) % 31;
+            let flg = fcheck as u8;
+            // Empty DEFLATE: 0x03, 0x00
+            // Adler-32 of empty: 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x01
+            let input = vec![cmf, flg, 0x03, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x01];
+            let result = zlib_decompress(&input);
+            assert!(result.is_ok(), "CINFO={cinfo} should be valid: {result:?}");
+            assert!(result.unwrap().is_empty());
+        }
+    }
+
+    // -- Adler-32 verification with known values --
+
+    #[test]
+    fn adler32_all_zeros() {
+        let data = vec![0u8; 100];
+        // a = 1 + 0*100 = 1, b = 100*1 = 100
+        assert_eq!(adler32(&data), (100 << 16) | 1);
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn adler32_single_ff() {
+        // a = 1 + 255 = 256, b = 0 + 256 = 256
+        assert_eq!(adler32(&[0xFF]), (256 << 16) | 256);
+    }
+}