README.md

@@ -115,7 +115,7 @@ Everything else is IRC. `PRIVMSG`, `JOIN`, `PART`, `NICK`, `TOPIC`, `MODE`,
 Joining a nonexistent channel creates it. Channels disappear when empty. Nicks
 are unique per server. Identity starts with a key — a nick is a display name.
 Accounts are optional: you can create an anonymous session instantly, or
-register with a password for multi-client access to a single session.
+set a password via the PASS command for multi-client access to a single session.
 
 ### On the resemblance to JSON-RPC
 
@@ -149,63 +149,59 @@ not arbitrary choices — each one follows from the project's core thesis that
 IRC's command model is correct and only the transport and session management
 need to change.
 
-### Identity & Sessions — Dual Authentication Model
+### Identity & Sessions — Cookie-Based Authentication
 
-The server supports two authentication paths: **anonymous sessions** for
+The server uses **HTTP cookies** for all authentication. There is no separate
-instant access, and **optional account registration** for multi-client access.
+registration step — sessions start anonymous and can optionally set a password
+for multi-client access.
 
-#### Anonymous Sessions (No Account Required)
+#### Session Creation
-
-The simplest entry point. No registration, no passwords.
 
 - **Session creation**: client sends `POST /api/v1/session` with a desired
-  nick → server assigns an **auth token** (64 hex characters of
+  nick → server sets an **HttpOnly auth cookie** (`neoirc_auth`) containing
-  cryptographically random bytes) and returns the user ID, nick, and token.
+  a cryptographically random token (64 hex characters) and returns the user
-- The auth token implicitly identifies the client. Clients present it via
+  ID and nick in the JSON response body. No token appears in the JSON body.
-  `Authorization: Bearer <token>`.
+- The auth cookie is HttpOnly, SameSite=Strict, and Secure when behind TLS.
-- Anonymous sessions are ephemeral — when the session expires or the user
+  Clients never need to handle the token directly — the browser/HTTP client
-  QUITs, the nick is released and there is no way to reclaim it.
+  manages cookies automatically.
+- Sessions start anonymous — no password required. When the session expires
+  or the user QUITs, the nick is released.
 
-#### Registered Accounts (Optional)
+#### Setting a Password (Optional, for Multi-Client Access)
 
-For users who want multi-client access (multiple devices sharing one session):
+For users who want to access the same session from multiple devices:
 
-- **Registration**: client sends `POST /api/v1/register` with a nick and
+- **Set password via IRC PASS command**: the authenticated client sends
-  password (minimum 8 characters) → server creates a session with the
+  `POST /api/v1/messages` with `{"command":"PASS","body":["mypassword"]}`.
-  password hashed via bcrypt, and returns the user ID, nick, and auth token.
+  The server hashes the password with bcrypt and stores it on the session.
-- **Login**: client sends `POST /api/v1/login` with nick and password →
+  Password must be at least 8 characters.
-  server verifies the password against the stored bcrypt hash and creates a
+- **Login from another client**: `POST /api/v1/login` with nick and password →
-  new client token for the existing session. This enables multi-client
+  server verifies the password, creates a new client for the existing session,
-  access: logging in from a new device adds a client to the existing session
+  and sets an auth cookie. Channel memberships and message queues are shared.
-  rather than creating a new one, so channel memberships and message queues
+  Login only works while the session still exists — if all clients have logged
-  are shared. Note: login only works while the session still exists — if all
+  out or the user has sent QUIT, the session is deleted and the password is
-  clients have logged out or the user has sent QUIT, the session is deleted
+  lost.
-  and the registration is lost.
-- Registered accounts cannot be logged into via `POST /api/v1/session` —
-  that endpoint is for anonymous sessions only.
-- Anonymous sessions (created via `/session`) cannot be logged into via
-  `/login` because they have no password set.
 
-#### Common Properties (Both Paths)
+#### Common Properties
 
 - Nicks are changeable via the `NICK` command; the server-assigned user ID is
   the stable identity.
 - Server-assigned IDs — clients do not choose their own IDs.
-- Tokens are opaque random bytes, **not JWTs**. No claims, no expiry encoded
+- Auth cookies contain opaque random bytes, **not JWTs**. No claims, no expiry
-  in the token, no client-side decode. The server is the sole authority on
+  encoded in the token, no client-side decode. The server is the sole authority
-  token validity.
+  on cookie validity.
 
 **Rationale:** IRC has no accounts. You connect, pick a nick, and talk.
 Anonymous sessions preserve that simplicity — instant access, zero friction.
 But some users want to access the same session from multiple devices without
-a bouncer. Optional registration with password enables multi-client login
+a bouncer. The PASS command enables multi-client login without adding friction
-without adding friction for casual users: if you don't want an account,
+for casual users: if you don't need multi-client, just create a session and
-don't create one. Note: in the current implementation, both anonymous and
+go. Cookie-based auth eliminates token management from client code entirely —
-registered sessions are deleted when the last client disconnects (QUIT or
+browsers and HTTP cookie jars handle it automatically. Note: both anonymous
-logout); registration does not make a session survive all-client
+and password-protected sessions are deleted when the last client disconnects
-removal. Identity verification at the message layer via cryptographic
+(QUIT or logout). Identity verification at the message layer via cryptographic
-signatures (see [Security Model](#security-model)) remains independent
+signatures (see [Security Model](#security-model)) remains independent of
-of account registration.
+password status.
 
 ### Nick Semantics
 
@@ -232,7 +228,7 @@ A single user session can have multiple clients (phone, laptop, terminal).
 - The server fans out all S2C messages to every active client queue for that
   user session.
 - `GET /api/v1/messages` delivers from the calling client's specific queue,
-  identified by the auth token.
+  identified by the auth cookie.
 - Client queues have **independent expiry/pruning** — one client going offline
   doesn't affect others.
 
@@ -244,11 +240,10 @@ User Session
 ```
 
 **Multi-client via login:** The `POST /api/v1/login` endpoint adds a new
-client to an existing registered session, enabling true multi-client support
+client to an existing session (one that has a password set via PASS command),
-(multiple tokens sharing one nick/session with independent message queues).
+enabling true multi-client support (multiple cookies sharing one nick/session
-Anonymous sessions created via `POST /api/v1/session` always create a new
+with independent message queues). Sessions without a password cannot be
-user with a new nick. A future endpoint to "add a client to an existing
+logged into.
-anonymous session" is planned but not yet implemented.
 
 **Rationale:** The fundamental IRC mobile problem is that you can't have your
 phone and laptop connected simultaneously without a bouncer. Server-side
@@ -355,19 +350,22 @@ over binary is measured in bytes per message, not meaningful bandwidth. The
 canonicalization story (RFC 8785 JCS) is also well-defined for JSON, which
 matters for signing.
 
-### Why Opaque Tokens Instead of JWTs
+### Why Opaque Cookies Instead of JWTs
 
 JWTs encode claims that clients can decode and potentially rely on. This
 creates a coupling between token format and client behavior. If the server
 needs to revoke a token, change the expiry model, or add/remove claims, JWT
 clients may break or behave incorrectly.
 
-Opaque tokens are simpler:
+Opaque auth cookies are simpler:
-- Server generates 32 random bytes → hex-encodes → stores SHA-256 hash
+- Server generates 32 random bytes → hex-encodes → stores SHA-256 hash →
-- Client presents the raw token; server hashes and looks it up
+  sets raw hex as an HttpOnly cookie
-- Revocation is a database delete
+- On each request, server hashes the cookie value and looks it up
+- Revocation is a database delete (cookie becomes invalid immediately)
 - No clock skew issues, no algorithm confusion, no "none" algorithm attacks
-- Token format can change without breaking clients
+- Cookie format can change without breaking clients
+- Clients never handle tokens directly — browsers and HTTP cookie jars
+  manage everything automatically
 
 ---
 
@@ -391,17 +389,18 @@ The entire read/write loop for a client is two endpoints. Everything else
 
 ### Session Lifecycle
 
-#### Anonymous Session
+#### Session Creation
 
 ```
 ┌─ Client ──────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
 │                                                            │
 │  1. POST /api/v1/session {"nick":"alice"}                  │
-│     → {"id":1, "nick":"alice", "token":"a1b2c3..."}       │
+│     → Set-Cookie: neoirc_auth=<token>; HttpOnly; ...       │
+│     → {"id":1, "nick":"alice"}                             │
 │                                                            │
 │  2. POST /api/v1/messages {"command":"JOIN","to":"#gen"}   │
 │     → {"status":"joined","channel":"#general"}             │
-│     (Server fans out JOIN event to all #general members)   │
+│     (Cookie sent automatically on all subsequent requests) │
 │                                                            │
 │  3. POST /api/v1/messages {"command":"PRIVMSG",            │
 │       "to":"#general","body":["hello"]}                    │
@@ -418,31 +417,37 @@ The entire read/write loop for a client is two endpoints. Everything else
 │  6. POST /api/v1/messages {"command":"QUIT"}               │
 │     → {"status":"quit"}                                    │
 │     (Server broadcasts QUIT, removes from channels,        │
-│      deletes session, releases nick)                       │
+│      deletes session, releases nick, clears cookie)        │
 │                                                            │
 └────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
 ```
 
-#### Registered Account
+#### Multi-Client via Password
 
 ```
-┌─ Client ──────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
+┌─ Client A ────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
 │                                                            │
-│  1. POST /api/v1/register                                  │
+│  1. POST /api/v1/session {"nick":"alice"}                  │
-│     {"nick":"alice", "password":"s3cret!!"}                │
+│     → Set-Cookie: neoirc_auth=<token_a>; HttpOnly; ...     │
-│     → {"id":1, "nick":"alice", "token":"a1b2c3..."}       │
+│     → {"id":1, "nick":"alice"}                             │
-│     (Session created with bcrypt-hashed password)          │
+│                                                            │
+│  2. POST /api/v1/messages                                  │
+│     {"command":"PASS","body":["s3cret!!"]}                 │
+│     → {"status":"ok"}                                      │
+│     (Password set via IRC PASS command)                    │
 │                                                            │
 │  ... use the API normally (JOIN, PRIVMSG, poll, etc.) ...  │
 │                                                            │
-│  (From another device, while session is still active)      │
+└────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
+
+┌─ Client B (another device, while session is still active) ┐
 │                                                            │
-│  2. POST /api/v1/login                                     │
+│  3. POST /api/v1/login                                     │
 │     {"nick":"alice", "password":"s3cret!!"}                │
-│     → {"id":1, "nick":"alice", "token":"d4e5f6..."}       │
+│     → Set-Cookie: neoirc_auth=<token_b>; HttpOnly; ...     │
+│     → {"id":1, "nick":"alice"}                             │
 │     (New client added to existing session — channels       │
-│      and message queues are preserved. If all clients      │
+│      and message queues are preserved.)                    │
-│      have logged out, session no longer exists.)           │
 │                                                            │
 └────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
 ```
@@ -729,6 +734,35 @@ Change the user's nickname.
 
 **IRC reference:** RFC 1459 §4.1.2
 
+#### PASS — Set Session Password
+
+Set a password on the current session, enabling multi-client login via
+`POST /api/v1/login`. The password is hashed with bcrypt and stored
+server-side.
+
+**C2S:**
+```json
+{"command": "PASS", "body": ["mypassword"]}
+```
+
+**Behavior:**
+
+- `body[0]` is the password. Must be at least 8 characters.
+- On success, the server responds with `{"status": "ok"}`.
+- If the password is too short or missing, the server sends
+  ERR_NEEDMOREPARAMS (461) via the message queue.
+- Calling PASS again overwrites the previous password.
+- Once a password is set, `POST /api/v1/login` can be used with the nick
+  and password to create additional clients on the same session.
+
+**Response:** `200 OK`
+```json
+{"status": "ok"}
+```
+
+**IRC reference:** Inspired by RFC 1459 §4.1.1 (PASS), repurposed for
+session password management.
+
 #### TOPIC — Set Channel Topic
 
 Set or change a channel's topic.
@@ -795,7 +829,7 @@ Destroy the session and disconnect from the server.
   quitting user. The quitting user does **not** receive their own QUIT.
 - The user is removed from all channels.
 - Empty channels are deleted (ephemeral).
-- The user's session is destroyed — the auth token is invalidated, the nick
+- The user's session is destroyed — the auth cookie is invalidated, the nick
   is released.
 - Subsequent requests with the old token return HTTP 401.
 
@@ -1086,8 +1120,8 @@ to compute stamps. Higher bit counts take exponentially longer to compute.
 ## API Reference
 
 All endpoints accept and return `application/json`. Authenticated endpoints
-require `Authorization: Bearer <token>` header. The token is obtained from
+require the `neoirc_auth` cookie, which is set automatically by
-`POST /api/v1/session`.
+`POST /api/v1/session` and `POST /api/v1/login`.
 
 All API responses include appropriate HTTP status codes. Error responses have
 the format:
@@ -1116,11 +1150,18 @@ difficulty is advertised via `GET /api/v1/server` in the `hashcash_bits` field.
 | `pow_token` | string | Conditional | Hashcash stamp (required when server has `hashcash_bits` > 0) |
 
 **Response:** `201 Created`
+
+The response sets an `neoirc_auth` HttpOnly cookie containing the auth token.
+The JSON body does **not** include the token.
+
+```
+Set-Cookie: neoirc_auth=494ba9fc...e3; Path=/; HttpOnly; SameSite=Strict
+```
+
 ```json
 {
   "id": 1,
-  "nick": "alice",
+  "nick": "alice"
-  "token": "494ba9fc0f2242873fc5c285dd4a24fc3844ba5e67789a17e69b6fe5f8c132e3"
 }
 ```
 
@@ -1128,7 +1169,16 @@ difficulty is advertised via `GET /api/v1/server` in the `hashcash_bits` field.
 |---------|---------|-------------|
 | `id`    | integer | Server-assigned user ID |
 | `nick`  | string  | Confirmed nick (always matches request on success) |
-| `token` | string  | 64-character hex auth token. Store this — it's the only credential. |
+
+**Cookie properties:**
+
+| Property   | Value |
+|------------|-------|
+| `Name`     | `neoirc_auth` |
+| `HttpOnly` | `true` (not accessible from JavaScript) |
+| `SameSite` | `Strict` (prevents CSRF) |
+| `Secure`   | `true` when behind TLS |
+| `Path`     | `/` |
 
 **Errors:**
 
@@ -1141,66 +1191,18 @@ difficulty is advertised via `GET /api/v1/server` in the `hashcash_bits` field.
 
 **curl example:**
 ```bash
-TOKEN=$(curl -s -X POST http://localhost:8080/api/v1/session \
+# Use -c to save cookies, -b to send them
+curl -s -c cookies.txt -X POST http://localhost:8080/api/v1/session \
   -H 'Content-Type: application/json' \
-  -d '{"nick":"alice","pow_token":"1:20:260310:neoirc::3a2f1"}' | jq -r .token)
+  -d '{"nick":"alice","pow_token":"1:20:260310:neoirc::3a2f1"}'
-echo $TOKEN
-```
-
-### POST /api/v1/register — Register Account
-
-Create a new user session with a password. The password is hashed
-with bcrypt and stored server-side. The password enables login from
-additional clients via `POST /api/v1/login` while the session
-remains active.
-
-**Request Body:**
-```json
-{"nick": "alice", "password": "mypassword"}
-```
-
-| Field      | Type   | Required | Constraints |
-|------------|--------|----------|-------------|
-| `nick`     | string | Yes      | 1–32 characters, must be unique on the server |
-| `password` | string | Yes      | Minimum 8 characters |
-
-**Response:** `201 Created`
-```json
-{
-  "id": 1,
-  "nick": "alice",
-  "token": "494ba9fc0f2242873fc5c285dd4a24fc3844ba5e67789a17e69b6fe5f8c132e3"
-}
-```
-
-| Field   | Type    | Description |
-|---------|---------|-------------|
-| `id`    | integer | Server-assigned user ID |
-| `nick`  | string  | Confirmed nick |
-| `token` | string  | 64-character hex auth token |
-
-**Errors:**
-
-| Status | Error | When |
-|--------|-------|------|
-| 400    | `invalid nick format` | Nick doesn't match allowed format |
-| 400    | `password must be at least 8 characters` | Password too short |
-| 409    | `nick already taken` | Another active session holds this nick |
-
-**curl example:**
-```bash
-TOKEN=$(curl -s -X POST http://localhost:8080/api/v1/register \
-  -H 'Content-Type: application/json' \
-  -d '{"nick":"alice","password":"mypassword"}' | jq -r .token)
-echo $TOKEN
 ```
 
 ### POST /api/v1/login — Login to Account
 
-Authenticate with a previously registered nick and password. Creates a new
+Authenticate with a nick and password (set via the PASS IRC command). Creates a
-client token for the existing session, preserving channel memberships and
+new client for the existing session, preserving channel memberships and message
-message queues. This is how multi-client access works for registered accounts:
+queues. This is how multi-client access works: each login adds a new client to
-each login adds a new client to the session.
+the session with its own auth cookie and message delivery queue.
 
 On successful login, the server enqueues MOTD messages and synthetic channel
 state (JOIN + TOPIC + NAMES for each channel the session belongs to) into the
@@ -1213,37 +1215,37 @@ new client's queue, so the client can immediately restore its UI state.
 
 | Field      | Type   | Required | Constraints |
 |------------|--------|----------|-------------|
-| `nick`     | string | Yes      | Must match a registered account |
+| `nick`     | string | Yes      | Must match an active session with a password set |
-| `password` | string | Yes      | Must match the account's password |
+| `password` | string | Yes      | Must match the session's password |
 
 **Response:** `200 OK`
+
+The response sets an `neoirc_auth` HttpOnly cookie for the new client.
+
 ```json
 {
   "id": 1,
-  "nick": "alice",
+  "nick": "alice"
-  "token": "7e8f9a0b1c2d3e4f5a6b7c8d9e0f1a2b3c4d5e6f7a8b9c0d1e2f3a4b5c6d7e8f"
 }
 ```
 
 | Field   | Type    | Description |
 |---------|---------|-------------|
-| `id`    | integer | Session ID (same as when registered) |
+| `id`    | integer | Session ID |
 | `nick`  | string  | Current nick |
-| `token` | string  | New 64-character hex auth token for this client |
 
 **Errors:**
 
 | Status | Error | When |
 |--------|-------|------|
 | 400    | `nick and password required` | Missing nick or password |
-| 401    | `invalid credentials` | Wrong password, nick not found, or account has no password |
+| 401    | `invalid credentials` | Wrong password, nick not found, or session has no password set |
 
 **curl example:**
 ```bash
-TOKEN=$(curl -s -X POST http://localhost:8080/api/v1/login \
+curl -s -c cookies.txt -X POST http://localhost:8080/api/v1/login \
   -H 'Content-Type: application/json' \
-  -d '{"nick":"alice","password":"mypassword"}' | jq -r .token)
+  -d '{"nick":"alice","password":"mypassword"}'
-echo $TOKEN
 ```
 
 ### GET /api/v1/state — Get Session State
@@ -1287,13 +1289,13 @@ Each channel object:
 **curl example:**
 ```bash
 curl -s http://localhost:8080/api/v1/state \
-  -H "Authorization: Bearer $TOKEN" | jq .
+  -b cookies.txt | jq .
 ```
 
 **Reconnect with channel state initialization:**
 ```bash
 curl -s "http://localhost:8080/api/v1/state?initChannelState=1" \
-  -H "Authorization: Bearer $TOKEN" | jq .
+  -b cookies.txt | jq .
 ```
 
 ### GET /api/v1/messages — Poll Messages (Long-Poll)
@@ -1353,14 +1355,12 @@ real-time endpoint — clients call it in a loop.
 
 **curl example (immediate):**
 ```bash
-curl -s "http://localhost:8080/api/v1/messages?after=0&timeout=0" \
+curl -s -b cookies.txt "http://localhost:8080/api/v1/messages?after=0&timeout=0" | jq .
-  -H "Authorization: Bearer $TOKEN" | jq .
 ```
 
 **curl example (long-poll, 15s):**
 ```bash
-curl -s "http://localhost:8080/api/v1/messages?after=42&timeout=15" \
+curl -s -b cookies.txt "http://localhost:8080/api/v1/messages?after=42&timeout=15" | jq .
-  -H "Authorization: Bearer $TOKEN" | jq .
 ```
 
 ### POST /api/v1/messages — Send Command
@@ -1387,6 +1387,7 @@ reference with all required and optional fields.
 | `JOIN`    | `to`                |               | 200 OK          |
 | `PART`    | `to`                | `body`        | 200 OK          |
 | `NICK`    | `body`              |               | 200 OK          |
+| `PASS`    | `body`              |               | 200 OK          |
 | `TOPIC`   | `to`, `body`        |               | 200 OK          |
 | `MODE`    | `to`                |               | 200 OK          |
 | `NAMES`   | `to`                |               | 200 OK          |
@@ -1401,14 +1402,14 @@ All IRC commands return HTTP 200 OK. IRC-level success and error responses
 are delivered as **numeric replies** through the message queue (see
 [Numeric Replies](#numeric-replies) below). HTTP error codes (4xx/5xx) are
 reserved for transport-level problems: malformed JSON (400), missing/invalid
-auth tokens (401), and server errors (500).
+auth cookies (401), and server errors (500).
 
 **HTTP errors (transport-level only):**
 
 | Status | Error | When |
 |--------|-------|------|
 | 400    | `invalid request` | Malformed JSON or empty command |
-| 401    | `unauthorized` | Missing or invalid auth token |
+| 401    | `unauthorized` | Missing or invalid auth cookie |
 | 500    | `internal error` | Server-side failure |
 
 **IRC numeric error replies (delivered via message queue):**
@@ -1499,11 +1500,11 @@ events). Event messages are delivered via the live queue only.
 ```bash
 # Latest 50 messages in #general
 curl -s "http://localhost:8080/api/v1/history?target=%23general&limit=50" \
-  -H "Authorization: Bearer $TOKEN" | jq .
+  -b cookies.txt | jq .
 
 # Older messages (pagination)
 curl -s "http://localhost:8080/api/v1/history?target=%23general&before=100&limit=50" \
-  -H "Authorization: Bearer $TOKEN" | jq .
+  -b cookies.txt | jq .
 ```
 
 ### GET /api/v1/channels — List Channels
@@ -1534,18 +1535,22 @@ List members of a channel. The `{name}` parameter is the channel name
 **curl example:**
 ```bash
 curl -s http://localhost:8080/api/v1/channels/general/members \
-  -H "Authorization: Bearer $TOKEN" | jq .
+  -b cookies.txt | jq .
 ```
 
 ### POST /api/v1/logout — Logout
 
-Destroy the current client's auth token. If no other clients remain on the
+Destroy the current client's session cookie and server-side client record.
-session, the user is fully cleaned up: parted from all channels (with QUIT
+If no other clients remain on the session, the user is fully cleaned up:
-broadcast to members), session deleted, nick released.
+parted from all channels (with QUIT broadcast to members), session deleted,
+nick released. The auth cookie is cleared in the response.
 
-**Request:** No body. Requires auth.
+**Request:** No body. Requires auth cookie.
 
 **Response:** `200 OK`
+
+The response clears the `neoirc_auth` cookie.
+
 ```json
 {"status": "ok"}
 ```
@@ -1554,12 +1559,11 @@ broadcast to members), session deleted, nick released.
 
 | Status | Error | When |
 |--------|-------|------|
-| 401    | `unauthorized` | Missing or invalid auth token |
+| 401    | `unauthorized` | Missing or invalid auth cookie |
 
 **curl example:**
 ```bash
-curl -s -X POST http://localhost:8080/api/v1/logout \
+curl -s -b cookies.txt -c cookies.txt -X POST http://localhost:8080/api/v1/logout | jq .
-  -H "Authorization: Bearer $TOKEN" | jq .
 ```
 
 ### GET /api/v1/users/me — Current User Info
@@ -1583,7 +1587,7 @@ Return the current user's session state. This is an alias for
 **curl example:**
 ```bash
 curl -s http://localhost:8080/api/v1/users/me \
-  -H "Authorization: Bearer $TOKEN" | jq .
+  -b cookies.txt | jq .
 ```
 
 ### GET /api/v1/server — Server Info
@@ -1828,20 +1832,21 @@ authenticity.
 
 ### Authentication
 
-- **Session auth**: Opaque bearer tokens (64 hex chars = 256 bits of entropy).
+- **Cookie-based auth**: Opaque HttpOnly cookies (64 hex chars = 256 bits of
-  Tokens are hashed (SHA-256) before storage and validated on every request.
+  entropy). Tokens are hashed (SHA-256) before storage and validated on every
+  request. Cookies are HttpOnly (no JavaScript access), SameSite=Strict
+  (CSRF protection), and Secure when behind TLS.
 - **Anonymous sessions**: `POST /api/v1/session` requires only a nick. No
-  password, instant access. The token is the sole credential.
+  password, instant access. The auth cookie is the sole credential.
-- **Registered accounts**: `POST /api/v1/register` accepts a nick and password
+- **Password-protected sessions**: The PASS IRC command sets a bcrypt-hashed
-  (minimum 8 characters). The password is hashed with bcrypt at the default
+  password on the session. `POST /api/v1/login` authenticates against the
-  cost factor and stored alongside the session. `POST /api/v1/login`
+  stored hash and issues a new client cookie.
-  authenticates against the stored hash and issues a new client token.
 - **Password security**: Passwords are never stored in plain text. bcrypt
-  handles salting and key stretching automatically. Anonymous sessions have
+  handles salting and key stretching automatically. Sessions without a
-  an empty `password_hash` and cannot be logged into via `/login`.
+  password cannot be logged into via `/login`.
-- **Token security**: Tokens should be treated like session cookies. Transmit
+- **Cookie security**: Auth cookies should only be transmitted over HTTPS in
-  only over HTTPS in production. If a token is compromised, the attacker has
+  production. If a cookie is compromised, the attacker has full access to the
-  full access to the session until QUIT or expiry.
+  session until QUIT or expiry.
 
 ### Message Integrity
 
@@ -1878,8 +1883,10 @@ authenticity.
 - **HTTPS is strongly recommended** for production deployments. The server
   itself serves plain HTTP — use a reverse proxy (nginx, Caddy, etc.) for TLS
   termination.
-- **CORS**: The server allows all origins by default (`Access-Control-Allow-Origin: *`).
+- **CORS**: The server allows all origins with credentials
-  Restrict this in production via reverse proxy configuration if needed.
+  (`Access-Control-Allow-Credentials: true`), reflecting the request Origin.
+  This enables cookie-based auth from cross-origin clients. Restrict origins
+  in production via reverse proxy configuration if needed.
 - **Content-Security-Policy**: The server sets a strict CSP header on all
   responses, restricting resource loading to same-origin and disabling
   dangerous features (object embeds, framing, base tag injection). The
@@ -2069,7 +2076,7 @@ skew issues) and simpler than UUIDs (integer comparison vs. string comparison).
 - **Client output queue entries**: Pruned automatically when older than
   `QUEUE_MAX_AGE` (default 30 days).
 - **Channels**: Deleted when the last member leaves (ephemeral).
-- **Sessions**: Both anonymous and registered sessions are deleted on `QUIT`
+- **Sessions**: Both anonymous and password-protected sessions are deleted on `QUIT`
   or when the last client logs out (`POST /api/v1/logout` with no remaining
   clients triggers session cleanup). There is no distinction between session
   types in the cleanup path — `handleQuit` and `cleanupUser` both call
@@ -2230,68 +2237,59 @@ A complete client needs only four HTTP calls:
 ### Step-by-Step with curl
 
 ```bash
-# 1a. Create an anonymous session (no account)
+# 1a. Create a session (cookie saved automatically with -c)
-export TOKEN=$(curl -s -X POST http://localhost:8080/api/v1/session \
+curl -s -c cookies.txt -X POST http://localhost:8080/api/v1/session \
   -H 'Content-Type: application/json' \
-  -d '{"nick":"testuser"}' | jq -r .token)
+  -d '{"nick":"testuser"}'
 
-# 1b. Or register an account (multi-client support)
+# 1b. Optionally set a password for multi-client access
-export TOKEN=$(curl -s -X POST http://localhost:8080/api/v1/register \
+curl -s -b cookies.txt -X POST http://localhost:8080/api/v1/messages \
   -H 'Content-Type: application/json' \
-  -d '{"nick":"testuser","password":"mypassword"}' | jq -r .token)
+  -d '{"command":"PASS","body":["mypassword"]}'
 
-# 1c. Or login to an existing account
+# 1c. Login from another device (saves new cookie)
-export TOKEN=$(curl -s -X POST http://localhost:8080/api/v1/login \
+curl -s -c cookies2.txt -X POST http://localhost:8080/api/v1/login \
   -H 'Content-Type: application/json' \
-  -d '{"nick":"testuser","password":"mypassword"}' | jq -r .token)
+  -d '{"nick":"testuser","password":"mypassword"}'
 
 # 2. Join a channel
-curl -s -X POST http://localhost:8080/api/v1/messages \
+curl -s -b cookies.txt -X POST http://localhost:8080/api/v1/messages \
-  -H "Authorization: Bearer $TOKEN" \
   -H 'Content-Type: application/json' \
   -d '{"command":"JOIN","to":"#general"}'
 
 # 3. Send a message
-curl -s -X POST http://localhost:8080/api/v1/messages \
+curl -s -b cookies.txt -X POST http://localhost:8080/api/v1/messages \
-  -H "Authorization: Bearer $TOKEN" \
   -H 'Content-Type: application/json' \
   -d '{"command":"PRIVMSG","to":"#general","body":["hello from curl!"]}'
 
 # 4. Poll for messages (one-shot)
-curl -s "http://localhost:8080/api/v1/messages?after=0&timeout=0" \
+curl -s -b cookies.txt "http://localhost:8080/api/v1/messages?after=0&timeout=0" | jq .
-  -H "Authorization: Bearer $TOKEN" | jq .
 
 # 5. Long-poll (blocks up to 15s waiting for messages)
-curl -s "http://localhost:8080/api/v1/messages?after=0&timeout=15" \
+curl -s -b cookies.txt "http://localhost:8080/api/v1/messages?after=0&timeout=15" | jq .
-  -H "Authorization: Bearer $TOKEN" | jq .
 
 # 6. Send a DM
-curl -s -X POST http://localhost:8080/api/v1/messages \
+curl -s -b cookies.txt -X POST http://localhost:8080/api/v1/messages \
-  -H "Authorization: Bearer $TOKEN" \
   -H 'Content-Type: application/json' \
   -d '{"command":"PRIVMSG","to":"othernick","body":["hey!"]}'
 
 # 7. Change nick
-curl -s -X POST http://localhost:8080/api/v1/messages \
+curl -s -b cookies.txt -X POST http://localhost:8080/api/v1/messages \
-  -H "Authorization: Bearer $TOKEN" \
   -H 'Content-Type: application/json' \
   -d '{"command":"NICK","body":["newnick"]}'
 
 # 8. Set channel topic
-curl -s -X POST http://localhost:8080/api/v1/messages \
+curl -s -b cookies.txt -X POST http://localhost:8080/api/v1/messages \
-  -H "Authorization: Bearer $TOKEN" \
   -H 'Content-Type: application/json' \
   -d '{"command":"TOPIC","to":"#general","body":["New topic!"]}'
 
 # 9. Leave a channel
-curl -s -X POST http://localhost:8080/api/v1/messages \
+curl -s -b cookies.txt -X POST http://localhost:8080/api/v1/messages \
-  -H "Authorization: Bearer $TOKEN" \
   -H 'Content-Type: application/json' \
   -d '{"command":"PART","to":"#general","body":["goodbye"]}'
 
 # 10. Disconnect
-curl -s -X POST http://localhost:8080/api/v1/messages \
+curl -s -b cookies.txt -X POST http://localhost:8080/api/v1/messages \
-  -H "Authorization: Bearer $TOKEN" \
   -H 'Content-Type: application/json' \
   -d '{"command":"QUIT","body":["leaving"]}'
 ```
@@ -2301,27 +2299,25 @@ curl -s -X POST http://localhost:8080/api/v1/messages \
 The key to real-time messaging is the poll loop. Here's the pattern:
 
 ```python
-# Python example
+# Python example — using requests.Session for automatic cookie handling
-import requests, json
+import requests, json, time
 
 BASE = "http://localhost:8080/api/v1"
-token = None
+session = requests.Session()  # Manages cookies automatically
 last_id = 0
 
-# Create session
+# Create session (cookie set automatically via Set-Cookie header)
-resp = requests.post(f"{BASE}/session", json={"nick": "pybot"})
+resp = session.post(f"{BASE}/session", json={"nick": "pybot"})
-token = resp.json()["token"]
+print(f"Session: {resp.json()}")
-headers = {"Authorization": f"Bearer {token}"}
 
 # Join channel
-requests.post(f"{BASE}/messages", headers=headers,
+session.post(f"{BASE}/messages",
-              json={"command": "JOIN", "to": "#general"})
+             json={"command": "JOIN", "to": "#general"})
 
 # Poll loop
 while True:
     try:
-        resp = requests.get(f"{BASE}/messages",
+        resp = session.get(f"{BASE}/messages",
-                          headers=headers,
                           params={"after": last_id, "timeout": 15},
                           timeout=20)  # HTTP timeout > long-poll timeout
         data = resp.json()
@@ -2338,14 +2334,14 @@ while True:
 ```
 
 ```javascript
-// JavaScript/browser example
+// JavaScript/browser example — cookies sent automatically
-async function pollLoop(token) {
+async function pollLoop() {
   let lastId = 0;
   while (true) {
     try {
       const resp = await fetch(
         `/api/v1/messages?after=${lastId}&timeout=15`,
-        {headers: {'Authorization': `Bearer ${token}`}}
+        {credentials: 'same-origin'}  // Include cookies
       );
       if (resp.status === 401) { /* session expired */ break; }
       const data = await resp.json();
@@ -2377,8 +2373,8 @@ Clients should handle these message commands from the queue:
 
 ### Error Handling
 
-- **HTTP 401**: Token expired or invalid. Re-create session (anonymous) or
+- **HTTP 401**: Auth cookie expired or invalid. Re-create session or
-  re-login (registered account).
+  re-login (if a password was set).
 - **HTTP 404**: Channel or user not found.
 - **HTTP 409**: Nick already taken (on session creation, registration, or
   NICK change).
@@ -2398,10 +2394,11 @@ Clients should handle these message commands from the queue:
 4. **DM tab logic**: When you receive a PRIVMSG where `to` is not a channel
    (no `#` prefix), the DM tab should be keyed by the **other** user's nick:
    if `from` is you, use `to`; if `from` is someone else, use `from`.
-5. **Reconnection**: If the poll loop fails with 401, the token is invalid.
+5. **Reconnection**: If the poll loop fails with 401, the auth cookie is
-   For anonymous sessions, create a new session. For registered accounts,
+   invalid. For sessions without a password, create a new session. For
-   log in again via `POST /api/v1/login` to get a fresh token on the same
+   sessions with a password set (via PASS command), log in again via
-   session. If it fails with a network error, retry with backoff.
+   `POST /api/v1/login` to get a fresh cookie on the same session. If it
+   fails with a network error, retry with backoff.
 
 ---
 
@@ -2560,8 +2557,10 @@ creating one session pays once and keeps their session.
   331-332 TOPIC, 352-353 WHO/NAMES, 366, 372-376 MOTD, 401-461 errors)
 - [ ] **Max message size enforcement** — reject oversized messages
 - [ ] **NOTICE command** — distinct from PRIVMSG (no auto-reply flag)
-- [ ] **Multi-client sessions** — add client to existing session
+- [x] **Multi-client sessions** — set a password via PASS command, then
-  (share nick across devices)
+  login from additional devices via `POST /api/v1/login`
+- [x] **Cookie-based auth** — HttpOnly cookies replace Bearer tokens for
+  all API authentication
 
 ### Future (1.0+)
 
@@ -2674,13 +2673,12 @@ neoirc/
    build a working IRC-style TUI client against this API in an afternoon, the
    API is too complex.
 
-2. **Accounts optional** — anonymous sessions are instant: pick a nick and
+2. **Passwords optional** — anonymous sessions are instant: pick a nick and
    talk. No registration, no email verification. The cost of entry is a
    hashcash proof, not bureaucracy. For users who want multi-client access
-   (multiple devices sharing one session), optional account registration
+   (multiple devices sharing one session), the PASS command sets a password
-   with password is available — but never required. Identity
+   on the session — but it's never required. Identity verification at the
-   verification at the message layer uses cryptographic signing,
+   message layer uses cryptographic signing, independent of password status.
-   independent of account status.
 
 3. **IRC semantics over HTTP** — command names and numeric codes from
    RFC 1459/2812. If you've built an IRC client or bot, you already know the

internal/cli/api/client.go

@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ import (
 	"fmt"
 	"io"
 	"net/http"
+	"net/http/cookiejar"
 	"net/url"
 	"strconv"
 	"strings"
@@ -28,16 +29,19 @@ var errHTTP = errors.New("HTTP error")
 // Client wraps HTTP calls to the neoirc server API.
 type Client struct {
 	BaseURL    string
-	Token      string
 	HTTPClient *http.Client
 }
 
-// NewClient creates a new API client.
+// NewClient creates a new API client with a cookie jar
+// for automatic auth cookie management.
 func NewClient(baseURL string) *Client {
-	return &Client{ //nolint:exhaustruct // Token set after CreateSession
+	jar, _ := cookiejar.New(nil)
+
+	return &Client{
 		BaseURL: baseURL,
 		HTTPClient: &http.Client{ //nolint:exhaustruct // defaults fine
 			Timeout: httpTimeout,
+			Jar:     jar,
 		},
 	}
 }
@@ -79,8 +83,6 @@ func (client *Client) CreateSession(
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("decode session: %w", err)
 	}
 
-	client.Token = resp.Token
-
 	return &resp, nil
 }
 
@@ -121,6 +123,7 @@ func (client *Client) PollMessages(
 		Timeout: time.Duration(
 			timeout+pollExtraTime,
 		) * time.Second,
+		Jar: client.HTTPClient.Jar,
 	}
 
 	params := url.Values{}
@@ -145,10 +148,6 @@ func (client *Client) PollMessages(
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("new request: %w", err)
 	}
 
-	request.Header.Set(
-		"Authorization", "Bearer "+client.Token,
-	)
-
 	resp, err := pollClient.Do(request)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("poll request: %w", err)
@@ -304,12 +303,6 @@ func (client *Client) do(
 		"Content-Type", "application/json",
 	)
 
-	if client.Token != "" {
-		request.Header.Set(
-			"Authorization", "Bearer "+client.Token,
-		)
-	}
-
 	resp, err := client.HTTPClient.Do(request)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("http: %w", err)

internal/cli/api/types.go

@@ -10,9 +10,8 @@ type SessionRequest struct {
 
 // SessionResponse is the response from session creation.
 type SessionResponse struct {
-	ID    int64  `json:"id"`
+	ID   int64  `json:"id"`
-	Nick  string `json:"nick"`
+	Nick string `json:"nick"`
-	Token string `json:"token"`
 }
 
 // StateResponse is the response from GET /api/v1/state.

internal/db/auth.go

@@ -16,80 +16,28 @@ var errNoPassword = errors.New(
 	"account has no password set",
 )
 
-// RegisterUser creates a session with a hashed password
+// SetPassword sets a bcrypt-hashed password on a session,
-// and returns session ID, client ID, and token.
+// enabling multi-client login via POST /api/v1/login.
-func (database *Database) RegisterUser(
+func (database *Database) SetPassword(
 	ctx context.Context,
-	nick, password string,
+	sessionID int64,
-) (int64, int64, string, error) {
+	password string,
+) error {
 	hash, err := bcrypt.GenerateFromPassword(
 		[]byte(password), bcryptCost,
 	)
 	if err != nil {
-		return 0, 0, "", fmt.Errorf(
+		return fmt.Errorf("hash password: %w", err)
-			"hash password: %w", err,
-		)
 	}
 
-	sessionUUID := uuid.New().String()
+	_, err = database.conn.ExecContext(ctx,
-	clientUUID := uuid.New().String()
+		"UPDATE sessions SET password_hash = ? WHERE id = ?",
-
+		string(hash), sessionID)
-	token, err := generateToken()
 	if err != nil {
-		return 0, 0, "", err
+		return fmt.Errorf("set password: %w", err)
 	}
 
-	now := time.Now()
+	return nil
-
-	transaction, err := database.conn.BeginTx(ctx, nil)
-	if err != nil {
-		return 0, 0, "", fmt.Errorf(
-			"begin tx: %w", err,
-		)
-	}
-
-	res, err := transaction.ExecContext(ctx,
-		`INSERT INTO sessions
-		 (uuid, nick, password_hash,
-		  created_at, last_seen)
-		 VALUES (?, ?, ?, ?, ?)`,
-		sessionUUID, nick, string(hash), now, now)
-	if err != nil {
-		_ = transaction.Rollback()
-
-		return 0, 0, "", fmt.Errorf(
-			"create session: %w", err,
-		)
-	}
-
-	sessionID, _ := res.LastInsertId()
-
-	tokenHash := hashToken(token)
-
-	clientRes, err := transaction.ExecContext(ctx,
-		`INSERT INTO clients
-		 (uuid, session_id, token,
-		  created_at, last_seen)
-		 VALUES (?, ?, ?, ?, ?)`,
-		clientUUID, sessionID, tokenHash, now, now)
-	if err != nil {
-		_ = transaction.Rollback()
-
-		return 0, 0, "", fmt.Errorf(
-			"create client: %w", err,
-		)
-	}
-
-	clientID, _ := clientRes.LastInsertId()
-
-	err = transaction.Commit()
-	if err != nil {
-		return 0, 0, "", fmt.Errorf(
-			"commit registration: %w", err,
-		)
-	}
-
-	return sessionID, clientID, token, nil
 }
 
 // LoginUser verifies a nick/password and creates a new

internal/db/auth_test.go

@@ -6,63 +6,65 @@ import (
 	_ "modernc.org/sqlite"
 )
 
-func TestRegisterUser(t *testing.T) {
+func TestSetPassword(t *testing.T) {
 	t.Parallel()
 
 	database := setupTestDB(t)
 	ctx := t.Context()
 
-	sessionID, clientID, token, err :=
+	sessionID, _, _, err :=
-		database.RegisterUser(ctx, "reguser", "password123")
+		database.CreateSession(ctx, "passuser")
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatal(err)
 	}
 
-	if sessionID == 0 || clientID == 0 || token == "" {
+	err = database.SetPassword(
+		ctx, sessionID, "password123",
+	)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+
+	// Verify we can now log in with the password.
+	loginSID, loginCID, loginToken, err :=
+		database.LoginUser(ctx, "passuser", "password123")
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+
+	if loginSID == 0 || loginCID == 0 || loginToken == "" {
 		t.Fatal("expected valid ids and token")
 	}
-
-	// Verify session works via token lookup.
-	sid, cid, nick, err :=
-		database.GetSessionByToken(ctx, token)
-	if err != nil {
-		t.Fatal(err)
-	}
-
-	if sid != sessionID || cid != clientID {
-		t.Fatal("session/client id mismatch")
-	}
-
-	if nick != "reguser" {
-		t.Fatalf("expected reguser, got %s", nick)
-	}
 }
 
-func TestRegisterUserDuplicateNick(t *testing.T) {
+func TestSetPasswordThenWrongLogin(t *testing.T) {
 	t.Parallel()
 
 	database := setupTestDB(t)
 	ctx := t.Context()
 
-	regSID, regCID, regToken, err :=
+	sessionID, _, _, err :=
-		database.RegisterUser(ctx, "dupnick", "password123")
+		database.CreateSession(ctx, "wrongpw")
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatal(err)
 	}
 
-	_ = regSID
+	err = database.SetPassword(
-	_ = regCID
+		ctx, sessionID, "correctpass",
-	_ = regToken
+	)
-
+	if err != nil {
-	dupSID, dupCID, dupToken, dupErr :=
+		t.Fatal(err)
-		database.RegisterUser(ctx, "dupnick", "other12345")
-	if dupErr == nil {
-		t.Fatal("expected error for duplicate nick")
 	}
 
-	_ = dupSID
+	loginSID, loginCID, loginToken, loginErr :=
-	_ = dupCID
+		database.LoginUser(ctx, "wrongpw", "wrongpass12")
-	_ = dupToken
+	if loginErr == nil {
+		t.Fatal("expected error for wrong password")
+	}
+
+	_ = loginSID
+	_ = loginCID
+	_ = loginToken
 }
 
 func TestLoginUser(t *testing.T) {
@@ -71,23 +73,26 @@ func TestLoginUser(t *testing.T) {
 	database := setupTestDB(t)
 	ctx := t.Context()
 
-	regSID, regCID, regToken, err :=
+	sessionID, _, _, err :=
-		database.RegisterUser(ctx, "loginuser", "mypassword")
+		database.CreateSession(ctx, "loginuser")
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatal(err)
 	}
 
-	_ = regSID
+	err = database.SetPassword(
-	_ = regCID
+		ctx, sessionID, "mypassword",
-	_ = regToken
+	)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
 
-	sessionID, clientID, token, err :=
+	loginSID, loginCID, token, err :=
 		database.LoginUser(ctx, "loginuser", "mypassword")
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatal(err)
 	}
 
-	if sessionID == 0 || clientID == 0 || token == "" {
+	if loginSID == 0 || loginCID == 0 || token == "" {
 		t.Fatal("expected valid ids and token")
 	}
 
@@ -103,33 +108,6 @@ func TestLoginUser(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
-func TestLoginUserWrongPassword(t *testing.T) {
-	t.Parallel()
-
-	database := setupTestDB(t)
-	ctx := t.Context()
-
-	regSID, regCID, regToken, err :=
-		database.RegisterUser(ctx, "wrongpw", "correctpass")
-	if err != nil {
-		t.Fatal(err)
-	}
-
-	_ = regSID
-	_ = regCID
-	_ = regToken
-
-	loginSID, loginCID, loginToken, loginErr :=
-		database.LoginUser(ctx, "wrongpw", "wrongpass12")
-	if loginErr == nil {
-		t.Fatal("expected error for wrong password")
-	}
-
-	_ = loginSID
-	_ = loginCID
-	_ = loginToken
-}
-
 func TestLoginUserNoPassword(t *testing.T) {
 	t.Parallel()
 

internal/handlers/api.go

@@ -36,6 +36,7 @@ const (
 	defaultMaxBodySize = 4096
 	defaultHistLimit   = 50
 	maxHistLimit       = 500
+	authCookieName     = "neoirc_auth"
 )
 
 func (hdlr *Handlers) maxBodySize() int64 {
@@ -46,23 +47,18 @@ func (hdlr *Handlers) maxBodySize() int64 {
 	return defaultMaxBodySize
 }
 
-// authSession extracts the session from the client token.
+// authSession extracts the session from the auth cookie.
 func (hdlr *Handlers) authSession(
 	request *http.Request,
 ) (int64, int64, string, error) {
-	auth := request.Header.Get("Authorization")
+	cookie, err := request.Cookie(authCookieName)
-	if !strings.HasPrefix(auth, "Bearer ") {
+	if err != nil || cookie.Value == "" {
-		return 0, 0, "", errUnauthorized
-	}
-
-	token := strings.TrimPrefix(auth, "Bearer ")
-	if token == "" {
 		return 0, 0, "", errUnauthorized
 	}
 
 	sessionID, clientID, nick, err :=
 		hdlr.params.Database.GetSessionByToken(
-			request.Context(), token,
+			request.Context(), cookie.Value,
 		)
 	if err != nil {
 		return 0, 0, "", fmt.Errorf("auth: %w", err)
@@ -71,6 +67,46 @@ func (hdlr *Handlers) authSession(
 	return sessionID, clientID, nick, nil
 }
 
+// setAuthCookie sets the authentication cookie on the
+// response.
+func (hdlr *Handlers) setAuthCookie(
+	writer http.ResponseWriter,
+	request *http.Request,
+	token string,
+) {
+	secure := request.TLS != nil ||
+		request.Header.Get("X-Forwarded-Proto") == "https"
+
+	http.SetCookie(writer, &http.Cookie{ //nolint:exhaustruct // optional fields
+		Name:     authCookieName,
+		Value:    token,
+		Path:     "/",
+		HttpOnly: true,
+		Secure:   secure,
+		SameSite: http.SameSiteStrictMode,
+	})
+}
+
+// clearAuthCookie removes the authentication cookie from
+// the client.
+func (hdlr *Handlers) clearAuthCookie(
+	writer http.ResponseWriter,
+	request *http.Request,
+) {
+	secure := request.TLS != nil ||
+		request.Header.Get("X-Forwarded-Proto") == "https"
+
+	http.SetCookie(writer, &http.Cookie{ //nolint:exhaustruct // optional fields
+		Name:     authCookieName,
+		Value:    "",
+		Path:     "/",
+		HttpOnly: true,
+		Secure:   secure,
+		SameSite: http.SameSiteStrictMode,
+		MaxAge:   -1,
+	})
+}
+
 func (hdlr *Handlers) requireAuth(
 	writer http.ResponseWriter,
 	request *http.Request,
@@ -226,10 +262,11 @@ func (hdlr *Handlers) handleCreateSession(
 
 	hdlr.deliverMOTD(request, clientID, sessionID, payload.Nick)
 
+	hdlr.setAuthCookie(writer, request, token)
+
 	hdlr.respondJSON(writer, request, map[string]any{
-		"id":    sessionID,
+		"id":   sessionID,
-		"nick":  payload.Nick,
+		"nick": payload.Nick,
-		"token": token,
 	}, http.StatusCreated)
 }
 
@@ -875,6 +912,11 @@ func (hdlr *Handlers) dispatchCommand(
 			writer, request,
 			sessionID, clientID, nick, bodyLines,
 		)
+	case irc.CmdPass:
+		hdlr.handlePass(
+			writer, request,
+			sessionID, clientID, nick, bodyLines,
+		)
 	case irc.CmdTopic:
 		hdlr.handleTopic(
 			writer, request,
@@ -2005,6 +2047,8 @@ func (hdlr *Handlers) handleQuit(
 		request.Context(), sessionID,
 	)
 
+	hdlr.clearAuthCookie(writer, request)
+
 	hdlr.respondJSON(writer, request,
 		map[string]string{"status": "quit"},
 		http.StatusOK)
@@ -2807,6 +2851,8 @@ func (hdlr *Handlers) HandleLogout() http.HandlerFunc {
 			)
 		}
 
+		hdlr.clearAuthCookie(writer, request)
+
 		hdlr.respondJSON(writer, request,
 			map[string]string{"status": "ok"},
 			http.StatusOK)

internal/handlers/api_test.go

@@ -33,15 +33,16 @@ import (
 )
 
 const (
-	commandKey  = "command"
+	commandKey     = "command"
-	bodyKey     = "body"
+	bodyKey        = "body"
-	toKey       = "to"
+	toKey          = "to"
-	statusKey   = "status"
+	statusKey      = "status"
-	privmsgCmd  = "PRIVMSG"
+	privmsgCmd     = "PRIVMSG"
-	joinCmd     = "JOIN"
+	joinCmd        = "JOIN"
-	apiMessages = "/api/v1/messages"
+	apiMessages    = "/api/v1/messages"
-	apiSession  = "/api/v1/session"
+	apiSession     = "/api/v1/session"
-	apiState    = "/api/v1/state"
+	apiState       = "/api/v1/state"
+	authCookieName = "neoirc_auth"
 )
 
 // testServer wraps a test HTTP server with helpers.
@@ -261,7 +262,7 @@ func doRequest(
 
 func doRequestAuth(
 	t *testing.T,
-	method, url, token string,
+	method, url, cookie string,
 	body io.Reader,
 ) (*http.Response, error) {
 	t.Helper()
@@ -279,10 +280,11 @@ func doRequestAuth(
 		)
 	}
 
-	if token != "" {
+	if cookie != "" {
-		request.Header.Set(
+		request.AddCookie(&http.Cookie{ //nolint:exhaustruct // only name+value needed
-			"Authorization", "Bearer "+token,
+			Name:  authCookieName,
-		)
+			Value: cookie,
+		})
 	}
 
 	resp, err := http.DefaultClient.Do(request)
@@ -325,17 +327,19 @@ func (tserver *testServer) createSession(
 		)
 	}
 
-	var result struct {
+	// Drain the body.
-		ID    int64  `json:"id"`
+	_, _ = io.ReadAll(resp.Body)
-		Token string `json:"token"`
+
+	// Extract auth cookie from response.
+	for _, cookie := range resp.Cookies() {
+		if cookie.Name == authCookieName {
+			return cookie.Value
+		}
 	}
 
-	decErr := json.NewDecoder(resp.Body).Decode(&result)
+	tserver.t.Fatal("no auth cookie in response")
-	if decErr != nil {
-		tserver.t.Fatalf("decode session: %v", decErr)
-	}
 
-	return result.Token
+	return ""
 }
 
 func (tserver *testServer) sendCommand(
@@ -492,10 +496,10 @@ func findNumeric(
 
 func TestCreateSessionValid(t *testing.T) {
 	tserver := newTestServer(t)
-	token := tserver.createSession("alice")
+	cookie := tserver.createSession("alice")
 
-	if token == "" {
+	if cookie == "" {
-		t.Fatal("expected token")
+		t.Fatal("expected auth cookie")
 	}
 }
 
@@ -617,7 +621,7 @@ func TestCreateSessionMalformed(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
-func TestAuthNoHeader(t *testing.T) {
+func TestAuthNoCookie(t *testing.T) {
 	tserver := newTestServer(t)
 
 	status, _ := tserver.getState("")
@@ -626,11 +630,11 @@ func TestAuthNoHeader(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
-func TestAuthBadToken(t *testing.T) {
+func TestAuthBadCookie(t *testing.T) {
 	tserver := newTestServer(t)
 
 	status, _ := tserver.getState(
-		"invalid-token-12345",
+		"invalid-cookie-12345",
 	)
 	if status != http.StatusUnauthorized {
 		t.Fatalf("expected 401, got %d", status)
@@ -1827,90 +1831,6 @@ func assertFieldGTE(
 	}
 }
 
-func TestRegisterValid(t *testing.T) {
-	tserver := newTestServer(t)
-
-	body, err := json.Marshal(map[string]string{
-		"nick": "reguser", "password": "password123",
-	})
-	if err != nil {
-		t.Fatal(err)
-	}
-
-	resp, err := doRequest(
-		t,
-		http.MethodPost,
-		tserver.url("/api/v1/register"),
-		bytes.NewReader(body),
-	)
-	if err != nil {
-		t.Fatal(err)
-	}
-
-	defer func() { _ = resp.Body.Close() }()
-
-	if resp.StatusCode != http.StatusCreated {
-		respBody, _ := io.ReadAll(resp.Body)
-		t.Fatalf(
-			"expected 201, got %d: %s",
-			resp.StatusCode, respBody,
-		)
-	}
-
-	var result map[string]any
-
-	_ = json.NewDecoder(resp.Body).Decode(&result)
-
-	if result["token"] == nil || result["token"] == "" {
-		t.Fatal("expected token in response")
-	}
-
-	if result["nick"] != "reguser" {
-		t.Fatalf(
-			"expected reguser, got %v", result["nick"],
-		)
-	}
-}
-
-func TestRegisterDuplicate(t *testing.T) {
-	tserver := newTestServer(t)
-
-	body, err := json.Marshal(map[string]string{
-		"nick": "dupuser", "password": "password123",
-	})
-	if err != nil {
-		t.Fatal(err)
-	}
-
-	resp, err := doRequest(
-		t,
-		http.MethodPost,
-		tserver.url("/api/v1/register"),
-		bytes.NewReader(body),
-	)
-	if err != nil {
-		t.Fatal(err)
-	}
-
-	_ = resp.Body.Close()
-
-	resp2, err := doRequest(
-		t,
-		http.MethodPost,
-		tserver.url("/api/v1/register"),
-		bytes.NewReader(body),
-	)
-	if err != nil {
-		t.Fatal(err)
-	}
-
-	defer func() { _ = resp2.Body.Close() }()
-
-	if resp2.StatusCode != http.StatusConflict {
-		t.Fatalf("expected 409, got %d", resp2.StatusCode)
-	}
-}
-
 func postJSONExpectStatus(
 	t *testing.T,
 	tserver *testServer,
@@ -1945,36 +1865,102 @@ func postJSONExpectStatus(
 	}
 }
 
-func TestRegisterShortPassword(t *testing.T) {
+func TestPassCommand(t *testing.T) {
 	tserver := newTestServer(t)
+	token := tserver.createSession("passuser")
 
-	postJSONExpectStatus(
+	// Drain initial messages.
-		t, tserver, "/api/v1/register",
+	_, _ = tserver.pollMessages(token, 0)
-		map[string]string{
+
-			"nick": "shortpw", "password": "short",
+	// Set password via PASS command.
+	status, result := tserver.sendCommand(
+		token,
+		map[string]any{
+			commandKey: "PASS",
+			bodyKey:    []string{"s3cure_pass"},
 		},
-		http.StatusBadRequest,
 	)
+	if status != http.StatusOK {
+		t.Fatalf(
+			"expected 200, got %d: %v", status, result,
+		)
+	}
+
+	if result[statusKey] != "ok" {
+		t.Fatalf(
+			"expected ok, got %v", result[statusKey],
+		)
+	}
 }
 
-func TestRegisterInvalidNick(t *testing.T) {
+func TestPassCommandShortPassword(t *testing.T) {
 	tserver := newTestServer(t)
+	token := tserver.createSession("shortpw")
 
-	postJSONExpectStatus(
+	// Drain initial messages.
-		t, tserver, "/api/v1/register",
+	_, lastID := tserver.pollMessages(token, 0)
-		map[string]string{
+
-			"nick":     "bad nick!",
+	// Try short password — should fail.
-			"password": "password123",
+	status, _ := tserver.sendCommand(
+		token,
+		map[string]any{
+			commandKey: "PASS",
+			bodyKey:    []string{"short"},
 		},
-		http.StatusBadRequest,
 	)
+	if status != http.StatusOK {
+		t.Fatalf("expected 200, got %d", status)
+	}
+
+	msgs, _ := tserver.pollMessages(token, lastID)
+
+	if !findNumeric(msgs, "461") {
+		t.Fatalf(
+			"expected ERR_NEEDMOREPARAMS (461), got %v",
+			msgs,
+		)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestPassCommandEmpty(t *testing.T) {
+	tserver := newTestServer(t)
+	token := tserver.createSession("emptypw")
+
+	// Drain initial messages.
+	_, lastID := tserver.pollMessages(token, 0)
+
+	// Try empty password — should fail.
+	status, _ := tserver.sendCommand(
+		token,
+		map[string]any{commandKey: "PASS"},
+	)
+	if status != http.StatusOK {
+		t.Fatalf("expected 200, got %d", status)
+	}
+
+	msgs, _ := tserver.pollMessages(token, lastID)
+
+	if !findNumeric(msgs, "461") {
+		t.Fatalf(
+			"expected ERR_NEEDMOREPARAMS (461), got %v",
+			msgs,
+		)
+	}
 }
 
 func TestLoginValid(t *testing.T) {
 	tserver := newTestServer(t)
 
-	// Register first.
+	// Create session and set password via PASS command.
-	regBody, err := json.Marshal(map[string]string{
+	token := tserver.createSession("loginuser")
+
+	tserver.sendCommand(token, map[string]any{
+		commandKey: "PASS",
+		bodyKey:    []string{"password123"},
+	})
+
+	// Login with nick + password.
+	loginBody, err := json.Marshal(map[string]string{
 		"nick": "loginuser", "password": "password123",
 	})
 	if err != nil {
@@ -1982,26 +1968,6 @@ func TestLoginValid(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 
 	resp, err := doRequest(
-		t,
-		http.MethodPost,
-		tserver.url("/api/v1/register"),
-		bytes.NewReader(regBody),
-	)
-	if err != nil {
-		t.Fatal(err)
-	}
-
-	_ = resp.Body.Close()
-
-	// Login.
-	loginBody, err := json.Marshal(map[string]string{
-		"nick": "loginuser", "password": "password123",
-	})
-	if err != nil {
-		t.Fatal(err)
-	}
-
-	resp2, err := doRequest(
 		t,
 		http.MethodPost,
 		tserver.url("/api/v1/login"),
@@ -2011,31 +1977,33 @@ func TestLoginValid(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Fatal(err)
 	}
 
-	defer func() { _ = resp2.Body.Close() }()
+	defer func() { _ = resp.Body.Close() }()
 
-	if resp2.StatusCode != http.StatusOK {
+	if resp.StatusCode != http.StatusOK {
-		respBody, _ := io.ReadAll(resp2.Body)
+		respBody, _ := io.ReadAll(resp.Body)
 		t.Fatalf(
 			"expected 200, got %d: %s",
-			resp2.StatusCode, respBody,
+			resp.StatusCode, respBody,
 		)
 	}
 
-	var result map[string]any
+	// Extract auth cookie from login response.
+	var loginCookie string
 
-	_ = json.NewDecoder(resp2.Body).Decode(&result)
+	for _, cookie := range resp.Cookies() {
+		if cookie.Name == authCookieName {
+			loginCookie = cookie.Value
 
-	if result["token"] == nil || result["token"] == "" {
+			break
-		t.Fatal("expected token in response")
+		}
 	}
 
-	// Verify token works.
+	if loginCookie == "" {
-	token, ok := result["token"].(string)
+		t.Fatal("expected auth cookie from login")
-	if !ok {
-		t.Fatal("token not a string")
 	}
 
-	status, state := tserver.getState(token)
+	// Verify login cookie works for auth.
+	status, state := tserver.getState(loginCookie)
 	if status != http.StatusOK {
 		t.Fatalf("expected 200, got %d", status)
 	}
@@ -2051,49 +2019,22 @@ func TestLoginValid(t *testing.T) {
 func TestLoginWrongPassword(t *testing.T) {
 	tserver := newTestServer(t)
 
-	regBody, err := json.Marshal(map[string]string{
+	// Create session and set password via PASS command.
-		"nick": "wrongpwuser", "password": "correctpass1",
+	token := tserver.createSession("wrongpwuser")
+
+	tserver.sendCommand(token, map[string]any{
+		commandKey: "PASS",
+		bodyKey:    []string{"correctpass1"},
 	})
-	if err != nil {
-		t.Fatal(err)
-	}
 
-	resp, err := doRequest(
+	postJSONExpectStatus(
-		t,
+		t, tserver, "/api/v1/login",
-		http.MethodPost,
+		map[string]string{
-		tserver.url("/api/v1/register"),
+			"nick":     "wrongpwuser",
-		bytes.NewReader(regBody),
+			"password": "wrongpass12",
+		},
+		http.StatusUnauthorized,
 	)
-	if err != nil {
-		t.Fatal(err)
-	}
-
-	_ = resp.Body.Close()
-
-	loginBody, err := json.Marshal(map[string]string{
-		"nick": "wrongpwuser", "password": "wrongpass12",
-	})
-	if err != nil {
-		t.Fatal(err)
-	}
-
-	resp2, err := doRequest(
-		t,
-		http.MethodPost,
-		tserver.url("/api/v1/login"),
-		bytes.NewReader(loginBody),
-	)
-	if err != nil {
-		t.Fatal(err)
-	}
-
-	defer func() { _ = resp2.Body.Close() }()
-
-	if resp2.StatusCode != http.StatusUnauthorized {
-		t.Fatalf(
-			"expected 401, got %d", resp2.StatusCode,
-		)
-	}
 }
 
 func TestLoginNonexistentUser(t *testing.T) {
@@ -2109,13 +2050,74 @@ func TestLoginNonexistentUser(t *testing.T) {
 	)
 }
 
+func TestSessionCookie(t *testing.T) {
+	tserver := newTestServer(t)
+
+	body, err := json.Marshal(
+		map[string]string{"nick": "cookietest"},
+	)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+
+	resp, err := doRequest(
+		t,
+		http.MethodPost,
+		tserver.url(apiSession),
+		bytes.NewReader(body),
+	)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+
+	defer func() { _ = resp.Body.Close() }()
+
+	if resp.StatusCode != http.StatusCreated {
+		t.Fatalf(
+			"expected 201, got %d", resp.StatusCode,
+		)
+	}
+
+	// Verify Set-Cookie header.
+	var authCookie *http.Cookie
+
+	for _, cookie := range resp.Cookies() {
+		if cookie.Name == authCookieName {
+			authCookie = cookie
+
+			break
+		}
+	}
+
+	if authCookie == nil {
+		t.Fatal("expected neoirc_auth cookie")
+	}
+
+	if !authCookie.HttpOnly {
+		t.Fatal("cookie should be HttpOnly")
+	}
+
+	if authCookie.SameSite != http.SameSiteStrictMode {
+		t.Fatal("cookie should be SameSite=Strict")
+	}
+
+	// Verify JSON body does NOT contain token.
+	var result map[string]any
+
+	_ = json.NewDecoder(resp.Body).Decode(&result)
+
+	if _, hasToken := result["token"]; hasToken {
+		t.Fatal("JSON body should not contain token")
+	}
+}
+
 func TestSessionStillWorks(t *testing.T) {
 	tserver := newTestServer(t)
 
 	// Verify anonymous session creation still works.
 	token := tserver.createSession("anon_user")
 	if token == "" {
-		t.Fatal("expected token for anonymous session")
+		t.Fatal("expected cookie for anonymous session")
 	}
 
 	status, state := tserver.getState(token)

internal/handlers/auth.go

@@ -5,120 +5,11 @@ import (
 	"net/http"
 	"strings"
 
-	"git.eeqj.de/sneak/neoirc/internal/db"
+	"git.eeqj.de/sneak/neoirc/pkg/irc"
 )
 
 const minPasswordLength = 8
 
-// HandleRegister creates a new user with a password.
-func (hdlr *Handlers) HandleRegister() http.HandlerFunc {
-	return func(
-		writer http.ResponseWriter,
-		request *http.Request,
-	) {
-		request.Body = http.MaxBytesReader(
-			writer, request.Body, hdlr.maxBodySize(),
-		)
-
-		hdlr.handleRegister(writer, request)
-	}
-}
-
-func (hdlr *Handlers) handleRegister(
-	writer http.ResponseWriter,
-	request *http.Request,
-) {
-	type registerRequest struct {
-		Nick     string `json:"nick"`
-		Password string `json:"password"`
-	}
-
-	var payload registerRequest
-
-	err := json.NewDecoder(request.Body).Decode(&payload)
-	if err != nil {
-		hdlr.respondError(
-			writer, request,
-			"invalid request body",
-			http.StatusBadRequest,
-		)
-
-		return
-	}
-
-	payload.Nick = strings.TrimSpace(payload.Nick)
-
-	if !validNickRe.MatchString(payload.Nick) {
-		hdlr.respondError(
-			writer, request,
-			"invalid nick format",
-			http.StatusBadRequest,
-		)
-
-		return
-	}
-
-	if len(payload.Password) < minPasswordLength {
-		hdlr.respondError(
-			writer, request,
-			"password must be at least 8 characters",
-			http.StatusBadRequest,
-		)
-
-		return
-	}
-
-	sessionID, clientID, token, err :=
-		hdlr.params.Database.RegisterUser(
-			request.Context(),
-			payload.Nick,
-			payload.Password,
-		)
-	if err != nil {
-		hdlr.handleRegisterError(
-			writer, request, err,
-		)
-
-		return
-	}
-
-	hdlr.stats.IncrSessions()
-	hdlr.stats.IncrConnections()
-
-	hdlr.deliverMOTD(request, clientID, sessionID, payload.Nick)
-
-	hdlr.respondJSON(writer, request, map[string]any{
-		"id":    sessionID,
-		"nick":  payload.Nick,
-		"token": token,
-	}, http.StatusCreated)
-}
-
-func (hdlr *Handlers) handleRegisterError(
-	writer http.ResponseWriter,
-	request *http.Request,
-	err error,
-) {
-	if db.IsUniqueConstraintError(err) {
-		hdlr.respondError(
-			writer, request,
-			"nick already taken",
-			http.StatusConflict,
-		)
-
-		return
-	}
-
-	hdlr.log.Error(
-		"register user failed", "error", err,
-	)
-	hdlr.respondError(
-		writer, request,
-		"internal error",
-		http.StatusInternalServerError,
-	)
-}
-
 // HandleLogin authenticates a user with nick and password.
 func (hdlr *Handlers) HandleLogin() http.HandlerFunc {
 	return func(
@@ -195,9 +86,66 @@ func (hdlr *Handlers) handleLogin(
 		request, clientID, sessionID, payload.Nick,
 	)
 
+	hdlr.setAuthCookie(writer, request, token)
+
 	hdlr.respondJSON(writer, request, map[string]any{
-		"id":    sessionID,
+		"id":   sessionID,
-		"nick":  payload.Nick,
+		"nick": payload.Nick,
-		"token": token,
 	}, http.StatusOK)
 }
+
+// handlePass handles the IRC PASS command to set a
+// password on the authenticated session, enabling
+// multi-client login via POST /api/v1/login.
+func (hdlr *Handlers) handlePass(
+	writer http.ResponseWriter,
+	request *http.Request,
+	sessionID, clientID int64,
+	nick string,
+	bodyLines func() []string,
+) {
+	lines := bodyLines()
+	if len(lines) == 0 || lines[0] == "" {
+		hdlr.respondIRCError(
+			writer, request, clientID, sessionID,
+			irc.ErrNeedMoreParams, nick,
+			[]string{irc.CmdPass},
+			"Not enough parameters",
+		)
+
+		return
+	}
+
+	password := lines[0]
+
+	if len(password) < minPasswordLength {
+		hdlr.respondIRCError(
+			writer, request, clientID, sessionID,
+			irc.ErrNeedMoreParams, nick,
+			[]string{irc.CmdPass},
+			"Password must be at least 8 characters",
+		)
+
+		return
+	}
+
+	err := hdlr.params.Database.SetPassword(
+		request.Context(), sessionID, password,
+	)
+	if err != nil {
+		hdlr.log.Error(
+			"set password failed", "error", err,
+		)
+		hdlr.respondError(
+			writer, request,
+			"internal error",
+			http.StatusInternalServerError,
+		)
+
+		return
+	}
+
+	hdlr.respondJSON(writer, request,
+		map[string]string{"status": "ok"},
+		http.StatusOK)
+}

internal/middleware/middleware.go

@@ -126,18 +126,23 @@ func (mware *Middleware) Logging() func(http.Handler) http.Handler {
 }
 
 // CORS returns middleware that handles Cross-Origin Resource Sharing.
+// AllowCredentials is true so browsers include cookies in
+// cross-origin API requests.
 func (mware *Middleware) CORS() func(http.Handler) http.Handler {
 	return cors.Handler(cors.Options{ //nolint:exhaustruct // optional fields
-		AllowedOrigins: []string{"*"},
+		AllowOriginFunc: func(
+			_ *http.Request, _ string,
+		) bool {
+			return true
+		},
 		AllowedMethods: []string{
 			"GET", "POST", "PUT", "DELETE", "OPTIONS",
 		},
 		AllowedHeaders: []string{
-			"Accept", "Authorization",
+			"Accept", "Content-Type", "X-CSRF-Token",
-			"Content-Type", "X-CSRF-Token",
 		},
 		ExposedHeaders:   []string{"Link"},
-		AllowCredentials: false,
+		AllowCredentials: true,
 		MaxAge:           corsMaxAge,
 	})
 }

internal/server/routes.go

@@ -75,10 +75,6 @@ func (srv *Server) setupAPIv1(router chi.Router) {
 		"/session",
 		srv.handlers.HandleCreateSession(),
 	)
-	router.Post(
-		"/register",
-		srv.handlers.HandleRegister(),
-	)
 	router.Post(
 		"/login",
 		srv.handlers.HandleLogin(),

pkg/irc/commands.go

@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ const (
 	CmdNames   = "NAMES"
 	CmdNick    = "NICK"
 	CmdNotice  = "NOTICE"
+	CmdPass    = "PASS"
 	CmdPart    = "PART"
 	CmdPing    = "PING"
 	CmdPong    = "PONG"