diff --git a/test.luau b/examples/tour.luau
similarity index 58%
rename from test.luau
rename to examples/tour.luau
index 1d9ff1d..6a58cc6 100644
--- a/test.luau
+++ b/examples/tour.luau
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 local fs = require("@lune/fs")
-local zip = require("./lib")
+local zip = require("../lib")
 
 local file = fs.readFile("test.zip")
 local reader = zip.load(buffer.fromstring(file))
@@ -11,16 +11,14 @@ reader:walk(function(entry, depth)
     print(prefix .. entry.name .. suffix)
 end)
 
-print("\nContents of /lib/:")
-local assets = reader:listDirectory("/lib/")
-for _, entry in ipairs(assets) do
-    print(entry.name, entry.isDirectory and "DIR" or entry.size)
-end
-
-local configEntry = reader:findEntry("config.json")
-if configEntry then
-    local content = reader:extract(configEntry)
-    print("\nConfig file size:", buffer.len(content))
+print("\nContents of `/`:")
+local assets = reader:listDirectory("/")
+for _, entry in assets do
+    print(entry.name, if entry.isDirectory then "DIR" else entry.size)
+    if not entry.isDirectory then
+        local extracted = reader:extract(entry, { isString = true })
+        print("Content:", extracted)
+    end
 end
 
 -- Get archive statistics
diff --git a/lib/crc.luau b/lib/crc.luau
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..bd9fd79
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/crc.luau
@@ -0,0 +1,30 @@
+local CRC32_TABLE = table.create(256)
+
+-- Initialize the lookup table and lock it in place
+for i = 0, 255 do
+    local crc = i
+    for _ = 1, 8 do
+        if bit32.band(crc, 1) == 1 then
+            crc = bit32.bxor(bit32.rshift(crc, 1), 0xEDB88320)
+        else
+            crc = bit32.rshift(crc, 1)
+        end
+    end
+    CRC32_TABLE[i] = crc
+end
+
+table.freeze(CRC32_TABLE)
+
+local function crc32(buf: buffer): number
+    local crc = 0xFFFFFFFF
+    
+    for i = 0, buffer.len(buf) - 1 do
+        local byte = buffer.readu8(buf, i)
+        local index = bit32.band(bit32.bxor(crc, byte), 0xFF)
+        crc = bit32.bxor(bit32.rshift(crc, 8), CRC32_TABLE[index])
+    end
+    
+    return bit32.bxor(crc, 0xFFFFFFFF)
+end
+
+return crc32
diff --git a/lib/inflate.luau b/lib/inflate.luau
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b1c96ee
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/inflate.luau
@@ -0,0 +1,345 @@
+local Tree = {}
+
+export type Tree = typeof(setmetatable({} :: TreeInner, { __index = Tree }))
+type TreeInner = {
+	table: { number }, -- len: 16 (🏳️‍⚧️❓)
+	trans: { number }, -- len: 288
+}
+
+function Tree.new(): Tree
+	return setmetatable(
+		{
+			table = table.create(16, 0),
+			trans = table.create(288, 0),
+		} :: TreeInner,
+		{ __index = Tree }
+	)
+end
+
+local Data = {}
+export type Data = typeof(setmetatable({} :: DataInner, { __index = Data }))
+export type DataInner = {
+	source: buffer,
+	sourceIndex: number,
+	tag: number,
+	bitcount: number,
+
+	dest: buffer,
+	destLen: number,
+	
+    ltree: Tree,
+	dtree: Tree,
+}
+
+function Data.new(source: buffer, dest: buffer): Data
+	return setmetatable(
+		{
+			source = source,
+			sourceIndex = 0,
+			tag = 0,
+			bitcount = 0,
+			dest = dest,
+			destLen = 0,
+			ltree = Tree.new(),
+			dtree = Tree.new(),
+		} :: DataInner,
+		{ __index = Data }
+	)
+end
+
+-- Static structures
+local staticLengthTree = Tree.new()
+local staticDistTree = Tree.new()
+
+-- Extra bits and base tables
+local lengthBits = table.create(30, 0)
+local lengthBase = table.create(30, 0)
+local distBits = table.create(30, 0)
+local distBase = table.create(30, 0)
+
+-- Special ordering of code length codes
+-- stylua: ignore
+local clcIndex = {
+    16, 17, 18, 0, 8, 7, 9, 6,
+    10, 5, 11, 4, 12, 3, 13, 2,
+    14, 1, 15
+}
+
+local codeTree = Tree.new()
+local lengths = table.create(288 + 32, 0)
+
+local function buildBitsBase(bits: { number }, base: { number }, delta: number, first: number)
+	local sum = first
+
+	-- build bits table
+	for i = 0, delta - 1 do
+		bits[i] = 0
+	end
+	for i = 0, 29 - delta do
+		bits[i + delta] = math.floor(i / delta)
+	end
+
+	-- build base table
+	for i = 0, 29 do
+		base[i] = sum
+		sum = sum + bit32.lshift(1, bits[i])
+	end
+end
+
+local function buildFixedTrees(lengthTree: Tree, distTree: Tree)
+	-- build fixed length tree
+	for i = 0, 6 do
+		lengthTree.table[i] = 0
+	end
+	lengthTree.table[7] = 24
+	lengthTree.table[8] = 152
+	lengthTree.table[9] = 112
+
+	for i = 0, 23 do
+		lengthTree.trans[i] = 256 + i
+	end
+	for i = 0, 143 do
+		lengthTree.trans[24 + i] = i
+	end
+	for i = 0, 7 do
+		lengthTree.trans[24 + 144 + i] = 280 + i
+	end
+	for i = 0, 111 do
+		lengthTree.trans[24 + 144 + 8 + i] = 144 + i
+	end
+
+	-- build fixed distance tree
+	for i = 0, 4 do
+		distTree.table[i] = 0
+	end
+	distTree.table[5] = 32
+
+	for i = 0, 31 do
+		distTree.trans[i] = i
+	end
+end
+
+local offs = table.create(16, 0)
+
+local function buildTree(t: Tree, lengths: { number }, off: number, num: number)
+	-- clear code length count table
+	for i = 0, 15 do
+		t.table[i] = 0
+	end
+
+	-- scan symbol lengths, and sum code length counts
+	for i = 0, num - 1 do
+		t.table[lengths[off + i]] += 1
+	end
+
+	t.table[0] = 0
+
+	-- compute offset table for distribution sort
+	local sum = 0
+	for i = 0, 15 do
+		offs[i] = sum
+		sum = sum + t.table[i]
+	end
+
+	-- create code->symbol translation table
+	for i = 0, num - 1 do
+		local len = lengths[off + i]
+		if len > 0 then
+			t.trans[offs[len]] = i
+			offs[len] += 1
+		end
+	end
+end
+
+local function getBit(d: Data): number
+	if d.bitcount <= 0 then
+		d.tag = buffer.readu8(d.source, d.sourceIndex)
+		d.sourceIndex += 1
+		d.bitcount = 8
+	end
+
+	local bit = bit32.band(d.tag, 1)
+	d.tag = bit32.rshift(d.tag, 1)
+	d.bitcount -= 1
+
+	return bit
+end
+
+local function readBits(d: Data, num: number?, base: number): number
+	if not num then
+		return base
+	end
+
+	while d.bitcount < 24 and d.sourceIndex < buffer.len(d.source) do
+		d.tag = bit32.bor(d.tag, bit32.lshift(buffer.readu8(d.source, d.sourceIndex), d.bitcount))
+		d.sourceIndex += 1
+		d.bitcount += 8
+	end
+
+	local val = bit32.band(d.tag, bit32.rshift(0xffff, 16 - num))
+	d.tag = bit32.rshift(d.tag, num)
+	d.bitcount -= num
+
+	return val + base
+end
+
+local function decodeSymbol(d: Data, t: Tree): number
+	while d.bitcount < 24 and d.sourceIndex < buffer.len(d.source) do
+		d.tag = bit32.bor(d.tag, bit32.lshift(buffer.readu8(d.source, d.sourceIndex), d.bitcount))
+		d.sourceIndex += 1
+		d.bitcount += 8
+	end
+
+	local sum, cur, len = 0, 0, 0
+	local tag = d.tag
+
+	repeat
+		cur = 2 * cur + bit32.band(tag, 1)
+		tag = bit32.rshift(tag, 1)
+		len += 1
+		sum += t.table[len]
+		cur -= t.table[len]
+	until cur < 0
+
+	d.tag = tag
+	d.bitcount -= len
+
+	return t.trans[sum + cur]
+end
+
+local function decodeTrees(d: Data, lengthTree: Tree, distTree: Tree)
+	local hlit = readBits(d, 5, 257)
+	local hdist = readBits(d, 5, 1)
+	local hclen = readBits(d, 4, 4)
+
+	for i = 0, 18 do
+		lengths[i] = 0
+	end
+
+	for i = 0, hclen - 1 do
+		lengths[clcIndex[i + 1]] = readBits(d, 3, 0)
+	end
+
+	buildTree(codeTree, lengths, 0, 19)
+
+	local num = 0
+	while num < hlit + hdist do
+		local sym = decodeSymbol(d, codeTree)
+
+		if sym == 16 then
+			local prev = lengths[num - 1]
+			for _ = 1, readBits(d, 2, 3) do
+				lengths[num] = prev
+				num += 1
+			end
+		elseif sym == 17 then
+			for _ = 1, readBits(d, 3, 3) do
+				lengths[num] = 0
+				num += 1
+			end
+		elseif sym == 18 then
+			for _ = 1, readBits(d, 7, 11) do
+				lengths[num] = 0
+				num += 1
+			end
+		else
+			lengths[num] = sym
+			num += 1
+		end
+	end
+
+	buildTree(lengthTree, lengths, 0, hlit)
+	buildTree(distTree, lengths, hlit, hdist)
+end
+
+local function inflateBlockData(d: Data, lengthTree: Tree, distTree: Tree)
+	while true do
+		local sym = decodeSymbol(d, lengthTree)
+
+		if sym == 256 then
+			return
+		end
+
+		if sym < 256 then
+			buffer.writeu8(d.dest, d.destLen, sym)
+			d.destLen += 1
+		else
+			sym -= 257
+
+			local length = readBits(d, lengthBits[sym], lengthBase[sym])
+			local dist = decodeSymbol(d, distTree)
+
+			local offs = d.destLen - readBits(d, distBits[dist], distBase[dist])
+
+			for i = offs, offs + length - 1 do
+				buffer.writeu8(d.dest, d.destLen, buffer.readu8(d.dest, i))
+				d.destLen += 1
+			end
+		end
+	end
+end
+
+local function inflateUncompressedBlock(d: Data)
+	while d.bitcount > 8 do
+		d.sourceIndex -= 1
+		d.bitcount -= 8
+	end
+
+	local length = buffer.readu8(d.source, d.sourceIndex + 1)
+	length = 256 * length + buffer.readu8(d.source, d.sourceIndex)
+
+	local invlength = buffer.readu8(d.source, d.sourceIndex + 3)
+	invlength = 256 * invlength + buffer.readu8(d.source, d.sourceIndex + 2)
+
+	if length ~= bit32.bxor(invlength, 0xffff) then
+		error("Invalid block length")
+	end
+
+	d.sourceIndex += 4
+
+	for _ = 1, length do
+		buffer.writeu8(d.dest, d.destLen, buffer.readu8(d.source, d.sourceIndex))
+		d.destLen += 1
+		d.sourceIndex += 1
+	end
+
+	d.bitcount = 0
+end
+
+local function uncompress(source: buffer): buffer
+	local dest = buffer.create(buffer.len(source) * 4)
+	local d = Data.new(source, dest)
+
+	repeat
+		local bfinal = getBit(d)
+		local btype = readBits(d, 2, 0)
+
+		if btype == 0 then
+			inflateUncompressedBlock(d)
+		elseif btype == 1 then
+			inflateBlockData(d, staticLengthTree, staticDistTree)
+		elseif btype == 2 then
+			decodeTrees(d, d.ltree, d.dtree)
+			inflateBlockData(d, d.ltree, d.dtree)
+		else
+			error("Invalid block type")
+		end
+	until bfinal == 1
+
+	if d.destLen < buffer.len(dest) then
+		local result = buffer.create(d.destLen)
+		buffer.copy(result, 0, dest, 0, d.destLen)
+		return result
+	end
+
+	return dest
+end
+
+-- Initialize static trees and tables
+buildFixedTrees(staticLengthTree, staticDistTree)
+buildBitsBase(lengthBits, lengthBase, 4, 3)
+buildBitsBase(distBits, distBase, 2, 1)
+lengthBits[28] = 0
+lengthBase[28] = 258
+
+return uncompress
diff --git a/lib/init.luau b/lib/init.luau
index d00898e..6350671 100644
--- a/lib/init.luau
+++ b/lib/init.luau
@@ -1,3 +1,6 @@
+local inflate = require("./inflate")
+local crc32 = require("./crc")
+
 -- Little endian constant signatures used in the ZIP file format
 local SIGNATURES = table.freeze({
 	-- Marks the beginning of each file in the ZIP
@@ -8,7 +11,38 @@ local SIGNATURES = table.freeze({
 	END_OF_CENTRAL_DIR = 0x06054b50,
 })
 
--- TODO: ERROR HANDLING!!
+type CrcValidationOptions = {
+	skip: boolean,
+	expected: number,
+}
+
+local function validateCrc(decompressed: buffer, validation: CrcValidationOptions)
+	-- Unless skipping validation is requested, we verify the checksum
+	if validation.skip then
+		local computed = crc32(decompressed)
+		assert(
+			validation.expected == computed,
+			`Validation failed; CRC checksum does not match: {string.format("%x", computed)} ~= {string.format(
+				"%x",
+				computed
+			)} (expected ~= got)`
+		)
+	end
+end
+
+local DECOMPRESSION_ROUTINES: { [number]: (buffer, validation: CrcValidationOptions) -> buffer } = table.freeze({
+	[0x00] = function(buf, validation)
+		validateCrc(buf, validation)
+		return buf
+	end,
+	[0x08] = function(buf, validation)
+		local decompressed = inflate(buf)
+		validateCrc(decompressed, validation)
+		return decompressed
+	end,
+})
+
+-- TODO: ERROR HANDLING!
 
 local ZipEntry = {}
 export type ZipEntry = typeof(setmetatable({} :: ZipEntryInner, { __index = ZipEntry }))
@@ -140,75 +174,82 @@ end
 
 function ZipReader.buildDirectoryTree(self: ZipReader): ()
 	for _, entry in self.entries do
-        local parts = {}
-        -- Split entry path into individual components
-        -- e.g. "folder/subfolder/file.txt" -> {"folder", "subfolder", "file.txt"}
-        for part in string.gmatch(entry.name, "([^/]+)/?") do
-            table.insert(parts, part)
-        end
+		local parts = {}
+		-- Split entry path into individual components
+		-- e.g. "folder/subfolder/file.txt" -> {"folder", "subfolder", "file.txt"}
+		for part in string.gmatch(entry.name, "([^/]+)/?") do
+			table.insert(parts, part)
+		end
 
-        -- Start from root directory
-        local current = self.root
-        local path = ""
+		-- Start from root directory
+		local current = self.root
+		local path = ""
 
-        -- Process each path component
-        for i, part in parts do
-            path ..= part
-            if i < #parts then
-                -- Create missing directory entries for intermediate paths
-                if not self.directories[path] then
-                    local dir = ZipEntry.new(path, 0, 0, entry.timestamp, 0)
-                    dir.isDirectory = true
-                    dir.parent = current
+		-- Process each path component
+		for i, part in parts do
+			path ..= part
+			if i < #parts then
+				-- Create missing directory entries for intermediate paths
+				if not self.directories[path] then
+					local dir = ZipEntry.new(path, 0, 0, entry.timestamp, 0)
+					dir.isDirectory = true
+					dir.parent = current
 
-                    -- Track directory in both lookup table and parent's children
-                    self.directories[path] = dir
-                    table.insert(current.children, dir)
-                end
+					-- Track directory in both lookup table and parent's children
+					self.directories[path] = dir
+					table.insert(current.children, dir)
+				end
 
-                -- Move deeper into the tree
-                current = self.directories[path]
-                continue
-            end
+				-- Move deeper into the tree
+				current = self.directories[path]
+				continue
+			end
 
-            -- Link file entry to its parent directory
-            entry.parent = current
-            table.insert(current.children, entry)
-        end
-    end	
+			-- Link file entry to its parent directory
+			entry.parent = current
+			table.insert(current.children, entry)
+		end
+	end
 end
 
 function ZipReader.findEntry(self: ZipReader, path: string): ZipEntry
-    if path == "/" then
-		-- If the root directory's entry was requested we do not 
+	if path == "/" then
+		-- If the root directory's entry was requested we do not
 		-- need to do any additional work
 		return self.root
-    end
+	end
 
-    -- Normalize path by removing leading and trailing slashes
-    -- This ensures consistent lookup regardless of input format
-    -- e.g., "/folder/file.txt/" -> "folder/file.txt"
-    path = string.gsub(path, "^/", ""):gsub("/$", "")
+	-- Normalize path by removing leading and trailing slashes
+	-- This ensures consistent lookup regardless of input format
+	-- e.g., "/folder/file.txt/" -> "folder/file.txt"
+	path = string.gsub(path, "^/", ""):gsub("/$", "")
 
-    -- First check regular files and explicit directories
-    for _, entry in self.entries do
-        -- Compare normalized paths
-        if string.gsub(entry.name, "/$", "") == path then
-            return entry
-        end
-    end
+	-- First check regular files and explicit directories
+	for _, entry in self.entries do
+		-- Compare normalized paths
+		if string.gsub(entry.name, "/$", "") == path then
+			return entry
+		end
+	end
 
-    -- If not found, check virtual directory entries
-    -- These are directories that were created implicitly
-    return self.directories[path]
+	-- If not found, check virtual directory entries
+	-- These are directories that were created implicitly
+	return self.directories[path]
 end
 
-
-function ZipReader.extract(self: ZipReader, entry: ZipEntry): buffer
+type ExtractionOptions = {
+	decompress: boolean?,
+	isString: boolean?,
+	skipValidation: boolean?,
+}
+function ZipReader.extract(self: ZipReader, entry: ZipEntry, options: ExtractionOptions?): buffer | string
 	-- Local File Header format:
 	-- Offset  Bytes  Description
 	-- 0       4      Local file header signature
 	-- 8       2      Compression method (8 = DEFLATE)
+	-- 14      4      CRC32 checksume
+	-- 18      4      Compressed size
+	-- 22      4      Uncompressed size
 	-- 26      2      File name length (n)
 	-- 28      2      Extra field length (m)
 	-- 30      n      File name
@@ -219,45 +260,79 @@ function ZipReader.extract(self: ZipReader, entry: ZipEntry): buffer
 		error("Cannot extract directory")
 	end
 
+	local defaultOptions: ExtractionOptions = {
+		decompress = true,
+		isString = false,
+		skipValidation = false,
+	}
+
+	-- TODO: Use a `Partial` type function for this in the future! 
+	local optionsOrDefault: {
+		decompress: boolean,
+		isString: boolean,
+		skipValidation: boolean
+	} = if options then setmetatable(options, { __index = defaultOptions }) :: any else defaultOptions
+
 	local pos = entry.offset
 	if buffer.readu32(self.data, pos) ~= SIGNATURES.LOCAL_FILE then
 		error("Invalid local file header")
 	end
 
+	local crcChecksum = buffer.readu32(self.data, pos + 14)
+	local compressedSize = buffer.readu32(self.data, pos + 18)
+	local uncompressedSize = buffer.readu32(self.data, pos + 22)
 	local nameLength = buffer.readu16(self.data, pos + 26)
 	local extraLength = buffer.readu16(self.data, pos + 28)
 
 	pos = pos + 30 + nameLength + extraLength
 
-	local content = buffer.create(entry.size)
-	buffer.copy(content, 0, self.data, pos, entry.size)
+	local content = buffer.create(compressedSize)
+	buffer.copy(content, 0, self.data, pos, compressedSize)
 
-	-- TODO: decompress data! `buffer.readu16(self.data, entry.offset + 8)`
-	-- will give the compression method, where method id 8 corresponds to
-	-- deflate
+	if optionsOrDefault.decompress then
+		local compressionMethod = buffer.readu16(self.data, entry.offset + 8)
+		local decompress = DECOMPRESSION_ROUTINES[compressionMethod]
+		if decompress == nil then
+			error(`Unsupported compression, ID: {compressionMethod}`)
+		end
 
-	return content
+		content = decompress(content, {
+			expected = crcChecksum,
+			skip = optionsOrDefault.skipValidation,
+		})
+
+		-- Unless skipping validation is requested, we make sure the uncompressed size matches
+		assert(
+			optionsOrDefault.skipValidation or uncompressedSize == buffer.len(content),
+			"Validation failed; uncompressed size does not match"
+		)
+	end
+
+	return if optionsOrDefault.isString then buffer.tostring(content) else content
 end
 
-function ZipReader.extractDirectory(self: ZipReader, path: string): { [string]: buffer }
-    local files = {}
-    -- Normalize path by removing leading slash for consistent prefix matching
-    path = string.gsub(path, "^/", "")
+function ZipReader.extractDirectory(
+	self: ZipReader,
+	path: string,
+	options: ExtractionOptions
+): { [string]: buffer } | { [string]: string }
+	local files: { [string]: buffer } | { [string]: string } = {}
+	-- Normalize path by removing leading slash for consistent prefix matching
+	path = string.gsub(path, "^/", "")
 
-    -- Iterate through all entries to find files within target directory
-    for _, entry in self.entries do
-        -- Check if entry is a file (not directory) and its path starts with target directory
-        if not entry.isDirectory and string.sub(entry.name, 1, #path) == path then
-            -- Store extracted content mapped to full path
-            files[entry.name] = self:extract(entry)
-        end
-    end
+	-- Iterate through all entries to find files within target directory
+	for _, entry in self.entries do
+		-- Check if entry is a file (not directory) and its path starts with target directory
+		if not entry.isDirectory and string.sub(entry.name, 1, #path) == path then
+			-- Store extracted content mapped to full path
+			files[entry.name] = self:extract(entry, options)
+		end
+	end
 
-    -- Return a map of file to contents
-    return files
+	-- Return a map of file to contents
+	return files
 end
 
-
 function ZipReader.listDirectory(self: ZipReader, path: string): { ZipEntry }
 	-- Locate the entry with the path
 	local entry = self:findEntry(path)