diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index fc07611..87b5f00 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -7,7 +7,8 @@ A native Linux peer-to-peer screencast application.
 - Built with **C++20**, **Meson**, **PipeWire**, **FFmpeg**, **RTP/UDP**, and
   **SDL**.
 
-> This project is in early development. Only the skeleton exists so far.
+> This project is in early development. The H.264 codec path is implemented;
+> capture, transport, and rendering are still in progress.
 
 ## Quick start
 
@@ -16,7 +17,8 @@ Requirements:
 - C++20 compiler (GCC 12+, Clang 16+)
 - Meson >= 0.63
 - Ninja
-- (later phases) FFmpeg dev packages, PipeWire dev, SDL2/3 dev
+- FFmpeg development packages (`libavcodec`, `libavutil`, `libswscale`)
+- (later phases) PipeWire dev, SDL2/3 dev
 
 Build and run tests:
 
@@ -40,7 +42,7 @@ See `docs/ARCHITECTURE.md` for module boundaries and design rules.
 
 Development is split into phases in `docs/PHASES.md`.
 
-Current phase: **Phase 2 — software H.264 encode / decode**.
+Current phase: **Phase 3 — PipeWire screen capture**.
 
 ## License
 
diff --git a/docs/PHASES.md b/docs/PHASES.md
index 3f9302f..29c5d8b 100644
--- a/docs/PHASES.md
+++ b/docs/PHASES.md
@@ -20,10 +20,10 @@ previous one is validated.
 **Goal**: encode raw pixel buffers to H.264 and decode them back, purely with
 FFmpeg software paths.
 
-- Add `libavcodec`, `libavutil`, `libswscale` dependencies.
-- Implement `EncoderFactory::create()` and `Encoder::encode()`.
-- Implement `DecoderFactory::create()` and `Decoder::decode()`.
-- Round-trip test: synthetic RGB frames → H.264 → decoded RGB.
+- [x] Add `libavcodec`, `libavutil`, `libswscale` dependencies.
+- [x] Implement `EncoderFactory::create()` and `Encoder::encode()`.
+- [x] Implement `DecoderFactory::create()` and `Decoder::decode()`.
+- [x] Round-trip test: synthetic RGB frames → H.264 → decoded RGB.
 
 **Validation**: unit test produces visually/structurally correct round-trip
 frames.
@@ -89,4 +89,4 @@ where available.
 
 ## Current phase
 
-Phase 2 — software H.264 encode/decode.
+Phase 3 — PipeWire screen capture.
diff --git a/include/screencast/codec/decoder.h b/include/screencast/codec/decoder.h
index 821ea2e..909f015 100644
--- a/include/screencast/codec/decoder.h
+++ b/include/screencast/codec/decoder.h
@@ -1,11 +1,11 @@
 #pragma once
 
 #include "screencast/codec/encoder.h"
+#include "screencast/codec/error.h"
 
 #include <cstdint>
 #include <memory>
-#include <optional>
-#include <span>
+#include <string>
 #include <vector>
 
 namespace sc {
@@ -18,22 +18,23 @@ struct DecodedFrame {
 };
 
 struct DecoderConfig {
-    std::string_view codec_name = "h264";
+    std::string codec_name = "h264";
     int width = 0;
     int height = 0;
+    std::vector<std::byte> extradata; // SPS/PPS for H.264
 };
 
 class Decoder {
   public:
-    virtual ~Decoder () = default;
+    virtual ~Decoder() = default;
 
     // Feed one encoded frame. Returns decoded frames when available.
-    virtual std::vector<DecodedFrame> decode ( const EncodedFrame &frame ) = 0;
+    virtual CodecResult<std::vector<DecodedFrame>> decode(const EncodedFrame& frame) = 0;
 };
 
 class DecoderFactory {
   public:
-    static std::unique_ptr<Decoder> create ( const DecoderConfig &config );
+    static CodecResult<std::unique_ptr<Decoder>> create(const DecoderConfig& config);
 };
 
-}  // namespace sc
+} // namespace sc
diff --git a/include/screencast/codec/encoder.h b/include/screencast/codec/encoder.h
index becbc21..04a317f 100644
--- a/include/screencast/codec/encoder.h
+++ b/include/screencast/codec/encoder.h
@@ -1,11 +1,11 @@
 #pragma once
 
 #include "screencast/capture/capture.h"
+#include "screencast/codec/error.h"
 
 #include <cstdint>
 #include <memory>
-#include <span>
-#include <string_view>
+#include <string>
 #include <vector>
 
 namespace sc {
@@ -14,11 +14,11 @@ struct EncodedFrame {
     uint64_t capture_timestamp_ns = 0;
     uint32_t rtp_timestamp = 0;
     bool is_keyframe = false;
-    std::vector<std::byte> data;  // Annex-B or AVCC depending on config
+    std::vector<std::byte> data; // Annex-B H.264 NAL units
 };
 
 struct EncoderConfig {
-    std::string_view codec_name = "h264";
+    std::string codec_name = "h264";
     int width = 0;
     int height = 0;
     int frame_rate_num = 30;
@@ -29,19 +29,25 @@ struct EncoderConfig {
 
 class Encoder {
   public:
-    virtual ~Encoder () = default;
+    virtual ~Encoder() = default;
 
-    // Encode one captured frame. Returns empty if the encoder emits no packet
-    // for this frame.
-    virtual std::vector<EncodedFrame> encode ( const CapturedFrame &frame ) = 0;
+    // Encode one captured frame. Returns an empty vector if the encoder emits
+    // no packet for this frame.
+    virtual CodecResult<std::vector<EncodedFrame>> encode(const CapturedFrame& frame) = 0;
 
-    // Force the next output to be a keyframe.
-    virtual void request_keyframe () = 0;
+    // Flush the encoder and return any remaining packets.
+    virtual CodecResult<std::vector<EncodedFrame>> flush() = 0;
+
+    // Force the next output frame to be a keyframe.
+    virtual void request_keyframe() = 0;
+
+    // Codec-specific parameters required by a decoder (SPS/PPS for H.264).
+    virtual std::vector<std::byte> get_extradata() const = 0;
 };
 
 class EncoderFactory {
   public:
-    static std::unique_ptr<Encoder> create ( const EncoderConfig &config );
+    static CodecResult<std::unique_ptr<Encoder>> create(const EncoderConfig& config);
 };
 
-}  // namespace sc
+} // namespace sc
diff --git a/include/screencast/codec/error.h b/include/screencast/codec/error.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e3bef54
--- /dev/null
+++ b/include/screencast/codec/error.h
@@ -0,0 +1,36 @@
+#pragma once
+
+#include <string>
+#include <variant>
+
+namespace sc {
+
+struct CodecError {
+    std::string message;
+};
+
+// C++20 does not provide std::expected. Use a variant-based result type so
+// fallible codec operations do not rely on exceptions.
+template <typename T> using CodecResult = std::variant<T, CodecError>;
+
+template <typename T> constexpr bool is_codec_error(const CodecResult<T>& result) noexcept {
+    return std::holds_alternative<CodecError>(result);
+}
+
+template <typename T> T& codec_value(CodecResult<T>& result) {
+    return std::get<T>(result);
+}
+
+template <typename T> const T& codec_value(const CodecResult<T>& result) {
+    return std::get<T>(result);
+}
+
+template <typename T> CodecError& codec_error(CodecResult<T>& result) {
+    return std::get<CodecError>(result);
+}
+
+template <typename T> const CodecError& codec_error(const CodecResult<T>& result) {
+    return std::get<CodecError>(result);
+}
+
+} // namespace sc
diff --git a/src/codec/ffmpeg_decoder.cpp b/src/codec/ffmpeg_decoder.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..675db11
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/codec/ffmpeg_decoder.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,237 @@
+#include "screencast/codec/decoder.h"
+
+#include "ffmpeg_raii.h"
+
+#include <array>
+#include <cstdint>
+#include <cstring>
+#include <optional>
+#include <string>
+#include <vector>
+
+namespace sc {
+namespace {
+
+using namespace sc::detail;
+
+enum class ReceiveStatus {
+    Frame,
+    Again,
+    Eof,
+    Error,
+};
+
+struct ReceiveResult {
+    ReceiveStatus status = ReceiveStatus::Error;
+    AvFramePtr frame;
+    std::string error;
+};
+
+} // namespace
+
+class FfmpegDecoder final : public Decoder {
+  public:
+    FfmpegDecoder(AvCodecContextPtr ctx, DecoderConfig config) : ctx_(std::move(ctx)), config_(std::move(config)) {}
+
+    CodecResult<std::vector<DecodedFrame>> decode(const EncodedFrame& frame) override {
+        if (frame.data.empty()) {
+            return std::vector<DecodedFrame>{};
+        }
+
+        AvPacketPtr packet(av_packet_alloc(), AvPacketDeleter{});
+        if (packet == nullptr) {
+            return CodecError{"failed to allocate AVPacket"};
+        }
+
+        packet->pts = av_rescale_q(
+            static_cast<int64_t>(frame.capture_timestamp_ns), AVRational{1, 1'000'000'000}, ctx_->time_base);
+
+        packet->data = static_cast<uint8_t*>(av_malloc(frame.data.size() + AV_INPUT_BUFFER_PADDING_SIZE));
+        if (packet->data == nullptr) {
+            return CodecError{"failed to allocate packet data"};
+        }
+        std::memcpy(packet->data, frame.data.data(), frame.data.size());
+        packet->size = static_cast<int>(frame.data.size());
+
+        std::vector<DecodedFrame> out;
+        int send_ret = avcodec_send_packet(ctx_.get(), packet.get());
+        while (send_ret == AVERROR(EAGAIN)) {
+            auto received = receive_one_frame();
+            if (received.status == ReceiveStatus::Error) {
+                return CodecError{received.error};
+            }
+            if (received.status == ReceiveStatus::Frame) {
+                auto frame_result = make_decoded_frame(received.frame.get(), frame.capture_timestamp_ns);
+                if (is_codec_error(frame_result)) {
+                    return CodecError{codec_error(frame_result).message};
+                }
+                out.push_back(std::move(codec_value(frame_result)));
+            }
+            if (received.status == ReceiveStatus::Again) {
+                return CodecError{"decoder stalled before producing output"};
+            }
+            send_ret = avcodec_send_packet(ctx_.get(), packet.get());
+        }
+
+        if (send_ret < 0) {
+            return CodecError{ffmpeg_error(send_ret)};
+        }
+
+        if (auto error = drain_frames(frame.capture_timestamp_ns, out)) {
+            return CodecError{std::move(*error)};
+        }
+
+        return out;
+    }
+
+  private:
+    ReceiveResult receive_one_frame() {
+        AvFramePtr frame(av_frame_alloc(), AvFrameDeleter{});
+        if (frame == nullptr) {
+            return {ReceiveStatus::Error, nullptr, "failed to allocate AVFrame"};
+        }
+
+        int ret = avcodec_receive_frame(ctx_.get(), frame.get());
+        if (ret == AVERROR(EAGAIN)) {
+            return {ReceiveStatus::Again, nullptr, {}};
+        }
+        if (ret == AVERROR_EOF) {
+            return {ReceiveStatus::Eof, nullptr, {}};
+        }
+        if (ret < 0) {
+            return {ReceiveStatus::Error, nullptr, ffmpeg_error(ret)};
+        }
+
+        return {ReceiveStatus::Frame, std::move(frame), {}};
+    }
+
+    std::optional<std::string> drain_frames(uint64_t fallback_timestamp_ns, std::vector<DecodedFrame>& out) {
+        while (true) {
+            auto received = receive_one_frame();
+            if (received.status == ReceiveStatus::Again || received.status == ReceiveStatus::Eof) {
+                return std::nullopt;
+            }
+            if (received.status == ReceiveStatus::Error) {
+                return received.error;
+            }
+
+            auto frame_result = make_decoded_frame(received.frame.get(), fallback_timestamp_ns);
+            if (is_codec_error(frame_result)) {
+                return codec_error(frame_result).message;
+            }
+            out.push_back(std::move(codec_value(frame_result)));
+        }
+    }
+
+    CodecResult<DecodedFrame> make_decoded_frame(const AVFrame* input, uint64_t fallback_timestamp_ns) const {
+        if (input->width <= 0 || input->height <= 0) {
+            return CodecError{"decoded frame dimensions must be positive"};
+        }
+
+        DecodedFrame frame;
+        frame.width = input->width;
+        frame.height = input->height;
+        frame.capture_timestamp_ns =
+            input->pts != AV_NOPTS_VALUE
+                ? static_cast<uint64_t>(av_rescale_q(input->pts, ctx_->time_base, AVRational{1, 1'000'000'000}))
+                : fallback_timestamp_ns;
+
+        const std::size_t buffer_size =
+            static_cast<std::size_t>(av_image_get_buffer_size(AV_PIX_FMT_RGBA, frame.width, frame.height, 1));
+        frame.rgba_pixels.resize(buffer_size);
+
+        if (!ensure_scaler(input->width, input->height, static_cast<AVPixelFormat>(input->format))) {
+            return CodecError{"failed to create swscale context"};
+        }
+
+        std::array<uint8_t*, 4> dst{nullptr, nullptr, nullptr, nullptr};
+        std::array<int, 4> dst_lines{0, 0, 0, 0};
+        if (av_image_fill_arrays(dst.data(),
+                                 dst_lines.data(),
+                                 as_u8(frame.rgba_pixels.data()),
+                                 AV_PIX_FMT_RGBA,
+                                 frame.width,
+                                 frame.height,
+                                 1) < 0) {
+            return CodecError{"failed to fill output pixel arrays"};
+        }
+
+        if (sws_scale(scaler_.get(), input->data, input->linesize, 0, input->height, dst.data(), dst_lines.data()) <=
+            0) {
+            return CodecError{"failed to convert decoded frame to RGBA"};
+        }
+
+        return frame;
+    }
+
+    bool ensure_scaler(int width, int height, AVPixelFormat input_format) const {
+        if (scaler_ != nullptr && scaler_input_width_ == width && scaler_input_height_ == height &&
+            scaler_input_format_ == input_format) {
+            return true;
+        }
+
+        scaler_.reset(sws_getContext(
+            width, height, input_format, width, height, AV_PIX_FMT_RGBA, SWS_BILINEAR, nullptr, nullptr, nullptr));
+        if (scaler_ == nullptr) {
+            return false;
+        }
+        scaler_input_width_ = width;
+        scaler_input_height_ = height;
+        scaler_input_format_ = input_format;
+        return true;
+    }
+
+    AvCodecContextPtr ctx_;
+    DecoderConfig config_;
+
+    mutable SwsContextPtr scaler_;
+    mutable int scaler_input_width_ = 0;
+    mutable int scaler_input_height_ = 0;
+    mutable AVPixelFormat scaler_input_format_ = AV_PIX_FMT_NONE;
+};
+
+CodecResult<std::unique_ptr<Decoder>> DecoderFactory::create(const DecoderConfig& config) {
+    if (config.codec_name != "h264") {
+        return CodecError{"only h264 is supported in phase 2"};
+    }
+
+    const AVCodec* codec = avcodec_find_decoder(AV_CODEC_ID_H264);
+    if (codec == nullptr) {
+        return CodecError{"h264 decoder not found"};
+    }
+
+    AvCodecContextPtr ctx(avcodec_alloc_context3(codec), AvCodecContextDeleter{});
+    if (ctx == nullptr) {
+        return CodecError{"failed to allocate decoder context"};
+    }
+
+    ctx->codec_type = AVMEDIA_TYPE_VIDEO;
+    if (config.width > 0) {
+        ctx->width = config.width;
+    }
+    if (config.height > 0) {
+        ctx->height = config.height;
+    }
+    ctx->thread_count = 1;
+
+    if (!config.extradata.empty()) {
+        if (config.extradata.size() > static_cast<std::size_t>(std::numeric_limits<int>::max())) {
+            return CodecError{"decoder extradata is too large"};
+        }
+        ctx->extradata = static_cast<uint8_t*>(av_malloc(config.extradata.size()));
+        if (ctx->extradata == nullptr) {
+            return CodecError{"failed to allocate decoder extradata"};
+        }
+        std::memcpy(ctx->extradata, config.extradata.data(), config.extradata.size());
+        ctx->extradata_size = static_cast<int>(config.extradata.size());
+    }
+
+    int open_ret = avcodec_open2(ctx.get(), codec, nullptr);
+    if (open_ret < 0) {
+        return CodecError{std::string{"failed to open h264 decoder: "} + ffmpeg_error(open_ret)};
+    }
+
+    return std::make_unique<FfmpegDecoder>(std::move(ctx), config);
+}
+
+} // namespace sc
diff --git a/src/codec/ffmpeg_encoder.cpp b/src/codec/ffmpeg_encoder.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..0ba6d65
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/codec/ffmpeg_encoder.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,371 @@
+#include "screencast/codec/encoder.h"
+#include "screencast/utils/clock.h"
+
+#include "ffmpeg_raii.h"
+
+#include <array>
+#include <atomic>
+#include <cstdint>
+#include <limits>
+#include <optional>
+#include <span>
+#include <string>
+#include <vector>
+
+namespace sc {
+namespace {
+
+using namespace sc::detail;
+
+AVPixelFormat to_ffmpeg_format(PixelFormat format) noexcept {
+    return format == PixelFormat::Rgba ? AV_PIX_FMT_RGBA : AV_PIX_FMT_YUV420P;
+}
+
+int expected_first_plane_stride(PixelFormat format, int width) noexcept {
+    return format == PixelFormat::Rgba ? width * 4 : width;
+}
+
+std::size_t expected_buffer_size(PixelFormat format, int width, int height) {
+    return static_cast<std::size_t>(av_image_get_buffer_size(to_ffmpeg_format(format), width, height, 1));
+}
+
+enum class ReceiveStatus {
+    Packet,
+    Again,
+    Eof,
+    Error,
+};
+
+struct ReceiveResult {
+    ReceiveStatus status = ReceiveStatus::Error;
+    AvPacketPtr packet;
+    std::string error;
+};
+
+// Convert an H.264 elementary stream to Annex-B form.
+//
+// FFmpeg's libx264 packets are already Annex-B, so this is primarily a
+// normalization helper for future encoders that may emit AVCC length-prefixed
+// NAL units. Only 4-byte length prefixes are supported.
+std::vector<std::byte> to_annex_b_h264(std::span<const std::byte> in) {
+    if (in.empty()) {
+        return {};
+    }
+
+    // Try to parse the input as AVCC. If the length-prefixed NALs consume
+    // exactly the whole buffer, treat it as AVCC and rewrite it as Annex-B.
+    if (in.size() >= 4) {
+        std::vector<std::byte> out;
+        out.reserve(in.size()); // Annex-B is the same size or larger.
+        std::size_t offset = 0;
+        bool ok = true;
+
+        while (offset < in.size()) {
+            if (offset + 4 > in.size()) {
+                ok = false;
+                break;
+            }
+
+            const auto* p = in.data() + offset;
+            const uint32_t length = (static_cast<uint32_t>(static_cast<unsigned char>(p[0])) << 24) |
+                                    (static_cast<uint32_t>(static_cast<unsigned char>(p[1])) << 16) |
+                                    (static_cast<uint32_t>(static_cast<unsigned char>(p[2])) << 8) |
+                                    (static_cast<uint32_t>(static_cast<unsigned char>(p[3])));
+
+            // Guard against malformed or pathological length prefixes.
+            if (length == 0 || length > std::numeric_limits<int>::max() / 2 || offset + 4 + length > in.size()) {
+                ok = false;
+                break;
+            }
+
+            out.push_back(std::byte{0x00});
+            out.push_back(std::byte{0x00});
+            out.push_back(std::byte{0x00});
+            out.push_back(std::byte{0x01});
+            out.insert(out.end(),
+                       in.begin() + static_cast<std::ptrdiff_t>(offset + 4),
+                       in.begin() + static_cast<std::ptrdiff_t>(offset + 4 + length));
+            offset += 4 + length;
+        }
+
+        if (ok && offset == in.size()) {
+            return out;
+        }
+    }
+
+    return std::vector<std::byte>(in.begin(), in.end());
+}
+
+} // namespace
+
+class FfmpegEncoder final : public Encoder {
+  public:
+    FfmpegEncoder(AvCodecContextPtr ctx, EncoderConfig config) : ctx_(std::move(ctx)), config_(std::move(config)) {}
+
+    CodecResult<std::vector<EncodedFrame>> encode(const CapturedFrame& frame) override {
+        auto input_result = make_input_frame(frame);
+        if (is_codec_error(input_result)) {
+            return CodecError{codec_error(input_result).message};
+        }
+        auto input = std::move(codec_value(input_result));
+
+        if (force_keyframe_.exchange(false)) {
+            input->pict_type = AV_PICTURE_TYPE_I;
+        }
+
+        std::vector<EncodedFrame> out;
+        int send_ret = avcodec_send_frame(ctx_.get(), input.get());
+        while (send_ret == AVERROR(EAGAIN)) {
+            auto received = receive_one_packet();
+            if (received.status == ReceiveStatus::Error) {
+                return CodecError{received.error};
+            }
+            if (received.status == ReceiveStatus::Packet) {
+                out.push_back(to_encoded_frame(received.packet.get(), frame.timestamp_ns));
+            }
+            if (received.status == ReceiveStatus::Again) {
+                return CodecError{"encoder stalled before producing output"};
+            }
+            send_ret = avcodec_send_frame(ctx_.get(), input.get());
+        }
+
+        if (send_ret < 0) {
+            return CodecError{ffmpeg_error(send_ret)};
+        }
+
+        if (auto error = drain_packets(frame.timestamp_ns, out)) {
+            return CodecError{std::move(*error)};
+        }
+
+        return out;
+    }
+
+    CodecResult<std::vector<EncodedFrame>> flush() override {
+        std::vector<EncodedFrame> out;
+        int ret = avcodec_send_frame(ctx_.get(), nullptr);
+        while (ret == AVERROR(EAGAIN)) {
+            auto received = receive_one_packet();
+            if (received.status == ReceiveStatus::Error) {
+                return CodecError{received.error};
+            }
+            if (received.status == ReceiveStatus::Packet) {
+                out.push_back(to_encoded_frame(received.packet.get(), 0));
+            }
+            if (received.status == ReceiveStatus::Again) {
+                return CodecError{"encoder stalled during flush"};
+            }
+            ret = avcodec_send_frame(ctx_.get(), nullptr);
+        }
+
+        if (ret < 0) {
+            return CodecError{ffmpeg_error(ret)};
+        }
+
+        if (auto error = drain_packets(0, out)) {
+            return CodecError{std::move(*error)};
+        }
+
+        return out;
+    }
+
+    void request_keyframe() override {
+        force_keyframe_ = true;
+    }
+
+    std::vector<std::byte> get_extradata() const override {
+        if (ctx_->extradata == nullptr || ctx_->extradata_size <= 0) {
+            return {};
+        }
+        return std::vector<std::byte>(as_bytes(ctx_->extradata), as_bytes(ctx_->extradata) + ctx_->extradata_size);
+    }
+
+  private:
+    ReceiveResult receive_one_packet() {
+        AvPacketPtr packet(av_packet_alloc(), AvPacketDeleter{});
+        if (packet == nullptr) {
+            return {ReceiveStatus::Error, nullptr, "failed to allocate RTP packet"};
+        }
+
+        int ret = avcodec_receive_packet(ctx_.get(), packet.get());
+        if (ret == AVERROR(EAGAIN)) {
+            return {ReceiveStatus::Again, nullptr, {}};
+        }
+        if (ret == AVERROR_EOF) {
+            return {ReceiveStatus::Eof, nullptr, {}};
+        }
+        if (ret < 0) {
+            return {ReceiveStatus::Error, nullptr, ffmpeg_error(ret)};
+        }
+
+        return {ReceiveStatus::Packet, std::move(packet), {}};
+    }
+
+    std::optional<std::string> drain_packets(uint64_t fallback_timestamp_ns, std::vector<EncodedFrame>& out) {
+        while (true) {
+            auto received = receive_one_packet();
+            if (received.status == ReceiveStatus::Again || received.status == ReceiveStatus::Eof) {
+                return std::nullopt;
+            }
+            if (received.status == ReceiveStatus::Error) {
+                return received.error;
+            }
+            out.push_back(to_encoded_frame(received.packet.get(), fallback_timestamp_ns));
+        }
+    }
+
+    EncodedFrame to_encoded_frame(const AVPacket* packet, uint64_t fallback_timestamp_ns) const {
+        EncodedFrame frame;
+        if (packet->pts != AV_NOPTS_VALUE) {
+            frame.capture_timestamp_ns =
+                static_cast<uint64_t>(av_rescale_q(packet->pts, ctx_->time_base, AVRational{1, 1'000'000'000}));
+        } else {
+            frame.capture_timestamp_ns = fallback_timestamp_ns;
+        }
+        frame.rtp_timestamp = rtp_timestamp_from_ns(frame.capture_timestamp_ns);
+        frame.is_keyframe = (packet->flags & AV_PKT_FLAG_KEY) != 0;
+
+        if (packet->data != nullptr && packet->size > 0) {
+            frame.data = to_annex_b_h264(as_byte_span(packet->data, static_cast<std::size_t>(packet->size)));
+        }
+
+        return frame;
+    }
+
+    CodecResult<AvFramePtr> make_input_frame(const CapturedFrame& frame) const {
+        if (frame.width <= 0 || frame.height <= 0) {
+            return CodecError{"frame dimensions must be positive"};
+        }
+
+        const AVPixelFormat input_format = to_ffmpeg_format(frame.pixel_format);
+        const int expected_stride = expected_first_plane_stride(frame.pixel_format, frame.width);
+        if (frame.stride != 0 && frame.stride != expected_stride) {
+            return CodecError{"unsupported input stride"};
+        }
+
+        const std::size_t required_size = expected_buffer_size(frame.pixel_format, frame.width, frame.height);
+        if (frame.pixels.size() < required_size) {
+            return CodecError{"input pixel buffer is too small"};
+        }
+
+        AvFramePtr output(av_frame_alloc(), AvFrameDeleter{});
+        if (output == nullptr) {
+            return CodecError{"failed to allocate AVFrame"};
+        }
+
+        output->width = frame.width;
+        output->height = frame.height;
+        output->format = AV_PIX_FMT_YUV420P;
+        output->time_base = ctx_->time_base;
+        output->pts =
+            av_rescale_q(static_cast<int64_t>(frame.timestamp_ns), AVRational{1, 1'000'000'000}, ctx_->time_base);
+
+        if (av_frame_get_buffer(output.get(), 0) < 0) {
+            return CodecError{"failed to allocate AVFrame buffer"};
+        }
+
+        if (!ensure_scaler(frame.width, frame.height, input_format)) {
+            return CodecError{"failed to create swscale context"};
+        }
+
+        std::array<uint8_t*, 4> src{nullptr, nullptr, nullptr, nullptr};
+        std::array<int, 4> src_lines{0, 0, 0, 0};
+        if (av_image_fill_arrays(
+                src.data(), src_lines.data(), as_u8(frame.pixels.data()), input_format, frame.width, frame.height, 1) <
+            0) {
+            return CodecError{"failed to fill input pixel arrays"};
+        }
+
+        if (sws_scale(scaler_.get(), src.data(), src_lines.data(), 0, frame.height, output->data, output->linesize) <=
+            0) {
+            return CodecError{"failed to convert input frame to YUV420P"};
+        }
+
+        return output;
+    }
+
+    bool ensure_scaler(int width, int height, AVPixelFormat input_format) const {
+        if (scaler_ != nullptr && scaler_input_width_ == width && scaler_input_height_ == height &&
+            scaler_input_format_ == input_format) {
+            return true;
+        }
+
+        scaler_.reset(sws_getContext(
+            width, height, input_format, width, height, AV_PIX_FMT_YUV420P, SWS_BILINEAR, nullptr, nullptr, nullptr));
+        if (scaler_ == nullptr) {
+            return false;
+        }
+        scaler_input_width_ = width;
+        scaler_input_height_ = height;
+        scaler_input_format_ = input_format;
+        return true;
+    }
+
+    AvCodecContextPtr ctx_;
+    EncoderConfig config_;
+    std::atomic<bool> force_keyframe_{false};
+
+    mutable SwsContextPtr scaler_;
+    mutable int scaler_input_width_ = 0;
+    mutable int scaler_input_height_ = 0;
+    mutable AVPixelFormat scaler_input_format_ = AV_PIX_FMT_NONE;
+};
+
+CodecResult<std::unique_ptr<Encoder>> EncoderFactory::create(const EncoderConfig& config) {
+    if (config.width <= 0 || config.height <= 0) {
+        return CodecError{"encoder width and height must be positive"};
+    }
+    if (config.frame_rate_num <= 0 || config.frame_rate_den <= 0) {
+        return CodecError{"encoder frame rate must be positive"};
+    }
+    if (config.bitrate_kbps <= 0) {
+        return CodecError{"encoder bitrate must be positive"};
+    }
+    if (config.codec_name != "h264" && config.codec_name != "libx264") {
+        return CodecError{"only h264 is supported in phase 2"};
+    }
+    if (config.hardware_accel) {
+        return CodecError{"hardware acceleration is not implemented in phase 2"};
+    }
+
+    const AVCodec* codec = avcodec_find_encoder_by_name("libx264");
+    if (codec == nullptr) {
+        return CodecError{"libx264 encoder not found"};
+    }
+
+    AvCodecContextPtr ctx(avcodec_alloc_context3(codec), AvCodecContextDeleter{});
+    if (ctx == nullptr) {
+        return CodecError{"failed to allocate encoder context"};
+    }
+
+    ctx->codec_type = AVMEDIA_TYPE_VIDEO;
+    ctx->width = config.width;
+    ctx->height = config.height;
+    ctx->time_base = AVRational{config.frame_rate_den, config.frame_rate_num};
+    ctx->framerate = AVRational{config.frame_rate_num, config.frame_rate_den};
+    ctx->pix_fmt = AV_PIX_FMT_YUV420P;
+    ctx->bit_rate = static_cast<int64_t>(config.bitrate_kbps) * 1000;
+    ctx->gop_size = config.frame_rate_num;
+    ctx->max_b_frames = 0;
+    ctx->thread_count = 1;
+    ctx->profile = AV_PROFILE_H264_MAIN;
+    ctx->flags |= AV_CODEC_FLAG_LOW_DELAY | AV_CODEC_FLAG_GLOBAL_HEADER;
+
+    if (av_opt_set(ctx->priv_data, "preset", "ultrafast", 0) < 0) {
+        return CodecError{"failed to set libx264 preset"};
+    }
+    if (av_opt_set(ctx->priv_data, "tune", "zerolatency", 0) < 0) {
+        return CodecError{"failed to set libx264 tune"};
+    }
+    if (av_opt_set(ctx->priv_data, "forced-idr", "1", 0) < 0) {
+        return CodecError{"failed to enable forced IDR keyframes"};
+    }
+
+    int open_ret = avcodec_open2(ctx.get(), codec, nullptr);
+    if (open_ret < 0) {
+        return CodecError{std::string{"failed to open libx264 encoder: "} + ffmpeg_error(open_ret)};
+    }
+
+    return std::make_unique<FfmpegEncoder>(std::move(ctx), config);
+}
+
+} // namespace sc
diff --git a/src/codec/ffmpeg_headers.h b/src/codec/ffmpeg_headers.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..28ced16
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/codec/ffmpeg_headers.h
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+#pragma once
+
+#if defined(__cplusplus)
+extern "C" {
+#endif
+
+#include <libavcodec/avcodec.h>
+#include <libavutil/frame.h>
+#include <libavutil/imgutils.h>
+#include <libavutil/opt.h>
+#include <libswscale/swscale.h>
+
+#if defined(__cplusplus)
+}
+#endif
diff --git a/src/codec/ffmpeg_raii.h b/src/codec/ffmpeg_raii.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..4c4fd15
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/codec/ffmpeg_raii.h
@@ -0,0 +1,78 @@
+#pragma once
+
+#include "ffmpeg_headers.h"
+
+#include <array>
+#include <memory>
+#include <span>
+#include <string>
+
+namespace sc::detail {
+
+// Helpers to centralize the std::byte <-> uint8_t casts required by FFmpeg.
+inline uint8_t* as_u8(std::byte* data) noexcept {
+    return reinterpret_cast<uint8_t*>(data);
+}
+
+inline const uint8_t* as_u8(const std::byte* data) noexcept {
+    return reinterpret_cast<const uint8_t*>(data);
+}
+
+inline std::byte* as_bytes(uint8_t* data) noexcept {
+    return reinterpret_cast<std::byte*>(data);
+}
+
+inline const std::byte* as_bytes(const uint8_t* data) noexcept {
+    return reinterpret_cast<const std::byte*>(data);
+}
+
+inline std::span<const std::byte> as_byte_span(const uint8_t* data, std::size_t size) noexcept {
+    return std::span<const std::byte>(as_bytes(data), size);
+}
+
+struct AvCodecContextDeleter {
+    void operator()(AVCodecContext* ctx) const noexcept {
+        if (ctx) {
+            avcodec_free_context(&ctx);
+        }
+    }
+};
+
+struct AvFrameDeleter {
+    void operator()(AVFrame* frame) const noexcept {
+        if (frame) {
+            av_frame_free(&frame);
+        }
+    }
+};
+
+struct AvPacketDeleter {
+    void operator()(AVPacket* packet) const noexcept {
+        if (packet) {
+            av_packet_free(&packet);
+        }
+    }
+};
+
+struct SwsContextDeleter {
+    void operator()(SwsContext* ctx) const noexcept {
+        if (ctx) {
+            sws_freeContext(ctx);
+        }
+    }
+};
+
+using AvCodecContextPtr = std::unique_ptr<AVCodecContext, AvCodecContextDeleter>;
+using AvFramePtr = std::unique_ptr<AVFrame, AvFrameDeleter>;
+using AvPacketPtr = std::unique_ptr<AVPacket, AvPacketDeleter>;
+using SwsContextPtr = std::unique_ptr<SwsContext, SwsContextDeleter>;
+
+inline std::string ffmpeg_error(int errnum) {
+    std::array<char, 1024> buffer{};
+    if (av_strerror(errnum, buffer.data(), buffer.size()) < 0) {
+        return "unknown FFmpeg error";
+    }
+    return buffer.data();
+}
+
+} // namespace sc::detail
diff --git a/src/meson.build b/src/meson.build
index b392b3e..b7527ba 100644
--- a/src/meson.build
+++ b/src/meson.build
@@ -1,6 +1,22 @@
-# Core public API is currently header-only. Source files will be added as
-# modules are implemented in later phases.
-
-# Declare an include-only dependency so that tests and executables can depend on
-# the public headers consistently.
+# Core public headers / include dependency.
 sc_core_inc = include_directories('../include')
+
+# Phase 2 codec dependencies.
+dep_avcodec = dependency('libavcodec')
+dep_avutil = dependency('libavutil')
+dep_swscale = dependency('libswscale')
+
+sc_codec_sources = files(
+    'codec/ffmpeg_encoder.cpp',
+    'codec/ffmpeg_decoder.cpp',
+)
+
+sc_codec = static_library('sc_codec',
+    sc_codec_sources,
+    include_directories : sc_core_inc,
+    dependencies : [dep_avcodec, dep_avutil, dep_swscale])
+
+sc_codec_dep = declare_dependency(
+    link_with : sc_codec,
+    include_directories : sc_core_inc,
+    dependencies : [dep_avcodec, dep_avutil, dep_swscale])
diff --git a/tests/codec/test_roundtrip.cpp b/tests/codec/test_roundtrip.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..15c2f98
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/codec/test_roundtrip.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,146 @@
+#include "screencast/codec/decoder.h"
+#include "screencast/codec/encoder.h"
+
+#include <algorithm>
+#include <cassert>
+#include <cstdint>
+#include <cstdlib>
+#include <iostream>
+#include <map>
+#include <vector>
+
+namespace {
+
+template <typename T> void expect_codec_result(const char* what, const sc::CodecResult<T>& result) {
+    if (sc::is_codec_error(result)) {
+        std::cerr << what << " failed: " << sc::codec_error(result).message << '\n';
+        std::abort();
+    }
+}
+
+constexpr int kWidth = 128;
+constexpr int kHeight = 128;
+constexpr int kFrames = 30;
+constexpr int kFrameRate = 25;
+constexpr uint64_t kNsPerFrame = 1'000'000'000ULL / kFrameRate;
+
+sc::CapturedFrame make_frame(uint32_t index) {
+    sc::CapturedFrame frame;
+    frame.width = kWidth;
+    frame.height = kHeight;
+    frame.timestamp_ns = static_cast<uint64_t>(index) * kNsPerFrame;
+    frame.pixel_format = sc::PixelFormat::Rgba;
+    frame.stride = kWidth * 4;
+    frame.pixels.resize(static_cast<std::size_t>(kWidth) * kHeight * 4);
+
+    auto* pixels = reinterpret_cast<std::uint8_t*>(frame.pixels.data());
+    for (int y = 0; y < kHeight; ++y) {
+        for (int x = 0; x < kWidth; ++x) {
+            const std::size_t offset = (static_cast<std::size_t>(y) * kWidth + x) * 4;
+            pixels[offset + 0] = static_cast<std::uint8_t>((x + static_cast<int>(index) * 4) & 0xFF);
+            pixels[offset + 1] = static_cast<std::uint8_t>((y + static_cast<int>(index) * 2) & 0xFF);
+            pixels[offset + 2] = static_cast<std::uint8_t>(((x ^ y) + static_cast<int>(index)) & 0xFF);
+            pixels[offset + 3] = 0xFF;
+        }
+    }
+
+    return frame;
+}
+
+int max_channel_difference(const sc::DecodedFrame& decoded, const sc::CapturedFrame& expected) {
+    const auto* decoded_pixels = reinterpret_cast<const std::uint8_t*>(decoded.rgba_pixels.data());
+    const auto* expected_pixels = reinterpret_cast<const std::uint8_t*>(expected.pixels.data());
+    const std::size_t count = std::min(decoded.rgba_pixels.size(), expected.pixels.size());
+
+    int max_diff = 0;
+    for (std::size_t i = 0; i < count; ++i) {
+        const int diff = decoded_pixels[i] >= expected_pixels[i] ? decoded_pixels[i] - expected_pixels[i]
+                                                                 : expected_pixels[i] - decoded_pixels[i];
+        max_diff = std::max(max_diff, diff);
+    }
+    return max_diff;
+}
+
+bool starts_with_annex_b_prefix(const sc::EncodedFrame& frame) {
+    if (frame.data.size() < 4) {
+        return false;
+    }
+    return frame.data[0] == std::byte{0x00} && frame.data[1] == std::byte{0x00} && frame.data[2] == std::byte{0x00} &&
+           frame.data[3] == std::byte{0x01};
+}
+
+} // namespace
+
+int main() {
+    sc::EncoderConfig encoder_config;
+    encoder_config.codec_name = "h264";
+    encoder_config.width = kWidth;
+    encoder_config.height = kHeight;
+    encoder_config.frame_rate_num = kFrameRate;
+    encoder_config.frame_rate_den = 1;
+    encoder_config.bitrate_kbps = 8000;
+    encoder_config.hardware_accel = false;
+
+    auto encoder_result = sc::EncoderFactory::create(encoder_config);
+    expect_codec_result("encoder create", encoder_result);
+    auto encoder = std::move(sc::codec_value(encoder_result));
+
+    const auto extradata = encoder->get_extradata();
+    assert(!extradata.empty());
+
+    sc::DecoderConfig decoder_config;
+    decoder_config.codec_name = "h264";
+    decoder_config.width = kWidth;
+    decoder_config.height = kHeight;
+    decoder_config.extradata = extradata;
+
+    auto decoder_result = sc::DecoderFactory::create(decoder_config);
+    expect_codec_result("decoder create", decoder_result);
+    auto decoder = std::move(sc::codec_value(decoder_result));
+
+    std::map<uint64_t, sc::CapturedFrame> expected_by_timestamp;
+    bool saw_keyframe = false;
+    bool saw_annex_b_prefix = false;
+
+    auto decode_packets = [&](const std::vector<sc::EncodedFrame>& packets) {
+        for (const auto& packet : packets) {
+            saw_keyframe = saw_keyframe || packet.is_keyframe;
+            saw_annex_b_prefix = saw_annex_b_prefix || starts_with_annex_b_prefix(packet);
+
+            auto decoded_result = decoder->decode(packet);
+            expect_codec_result("decode", decoded_result);
+
+            for (const auto& decoded : sc::codec_value(decoded_result)) {
+                assert(decoded.width == kWidth);
+                assert(decoded.height == kHeight);
+
+                auto it = expected_by_timestamp.find(decoded.capture_timestamp_ns);
+                assert(it != expected_by_timestamp.end());
+                assert(max_channel_difference(decoded, it->second) <= 64);
+            }
+        }
+    };
+
+    for (uint32_t i = 0; i < kFrames; ++i) {
+        const auto frame = make_frame(i);
+        expected_by_timestamp.emplace(frame.timestamp_ns, frame);
+
+        if (i == kFrames / 2) {
+            encoder->request_keyframe();
+        }
+
+        auto encoded_result = encoder->encode(frame);
+        expect_codec_result("encode", encoded_result);
+        decode_packets(sc::codec_value(encoded_result));
+    }
+
+    auto flushed_result = encoder->flush();
+    expect_codec_result("flush", flushed_result);
+    decode_packets(sc::codec_value(flushed_result));
+
+    assert(!expected_by_timestamp.empty());
+    assert(saw_keyframe);
+    assert(saw_annex_b_prefix);
+
+    return 0;
+}
diff --git a/tests/meson.build b/tests/meson.build
index 0b1b499..03eff97 100644
--- a/tests/meson.build
+++ b/tests/meson.build
@@ -3,3 +3,9 @@ test_clock = executable('test_clock',
     include_directories : sc_core_inc)
 
 test('clock utils', test_clock)
+
+test_codec_roundtrip = executable('test_codec_roundtrip',
+    'codec/test_roundtrip.cpp',
+    dependencies : sc_codec_dep)
+
+test('h264 roundtrip', test_codec_roundtrip)