diff --git a/ext/botmapping.go b/ext/botmapping.go
index ca80dafa..835f9c3b 100644
--- a/ext/botmapping.go
+++ b/ext/botmapping.go
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ import (
 	"encoding/json"
 	"errors"
 	"io"
-	"log"
+	"log/slog"
 	"net/http"
 	"strings"
 	"sync"
@@ -46,8 +46,8 @@ type botMapping struct {
 
 	// errFunc fills the same purpose as Updater.UnhandledErrFunc.
 	errFunc ErrorFunc
-	// errorLog fills the same purpose as Updater.ErrorLog.
-	errorLog *log.Logger
+	// logger fills the same purpose as Updater.Logger.
+	logger *slog.Logger
 }
 
 var (
@@ -198,7 +198,7 @@ func (m *botMapping) getHandlerFunc(prefix string) func(writer http.ResponseWrit
 			if m.errFunc != nil {
 				m.errFunc(err)
 			} else {
-				m.logf("Failed to read incoming update contents: %s", err.Error())
+				logError(m.logger, "failed to read incoming update contents", err)
 			}
 			w.WriteHeader(http.StatusInternalServerError)
 			return
@@ -208,14 +208,6 @@ func (m *botMapping) getHandlerFunc(prefix string) func(writer http.ResponseWrit
 	}
 }
 
-func (m *botMapping) logf(format string, args ...interface{}) {
-	if m.errorLog != nil {
-		m.errorLog.Printf(format, args...)
-	} else {
-		log.Printf(format, args...)
-	}
-}
-
 func (b *botData) stop() {
 	// Close stopUpdates loops first, to ensure any updates currently being polled have the time to be sent to the updateChan.
 	if b.stopUpdates != nil {
diff --git a/ext/common.go b/ext/common.go
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..4ff62522
--- /dev/null
+++ b/ext/common.go
@@ -0,0 +1,30 @@
+package ext
+
+import (
+	"log"
+	"log/slog"
+)
+
+func logError(l *slog.Logger, text string, err error) {
+	if l == nil {
+		log.Printf("ERROR: %s: %s", text, err.Error())
+		return
+	}
+	l.Error(text, "error", err.Error())
+}
+
+func logDebug(l *slog.Logger, text string, args ...any) {
+	if l == nil {
+		// No logger? No debug.
+		return
+	}
+	l.Error(text, args...)
+}
+
+// ternary operator approximation.
+func iftrue[T any](b bool, t T, f T) T {
+	if b {
+		return t
+	}
+	return f
+}
diff --git a/ext/dispatcher.go b/ext/dispatcher.go
index 5074ad38..25202fac 100644
--- a/ext/dispatcher.go
+++ b/ext/dispatcher.go
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ import (
 	"encoding/json"
 	"errors"
 	"fmt"
-	"log"
+	"log/slog"
 	"runtime/debug"
 	"strings"
 	"sync"
@@ -74,11 +74,10 @@ type Dispatcher struct {
 	// UnhandledErrFunc provides more flexibility for dealing with unhandled update processing errors.
 	// This includes errors when unmarshalling updates, unhandled panics during handler executions, or unknown
 	// dispatcher actions.
-	// If nil, the error goes to ErrorLog.
+	// If nil, the error goes to the logger.
 	UnhandledErrFunc ErrorFunc
-	// ErrorLog specifies an optional logger for unexpected behavior from handlers.
-	// If nil, logging is done via the log package's standard logger.
-	ErrorLog *log.Logger
+	// Logger specifies an optional logger for unexpected behavior from handlers.
+	Logger *slog.Logger
 
 	// handlers represents all available handlers.
 	handlers handlerMapping
@@ -101,18 +100,17 @@ type DispatcherOpts struct {
 	// More info at Dispatcher.Error.
 	Error DispatcherErrorHandler
 	// Panic handles any panics that occur during handler execution.
-	// If no panic handlers are defined, the stack is logged to ErrorLog.
+	// If no panic handlers are defined, the stack is logged to the logger.
 	// More info at Dispatcher.Panic.
 	Panic DispatcherPanicHandler
 
 	// UnhandledErrFunc provides more flexibility for dealing with unhandled update processing errors.
 	// This includes errors when unmarshalling updates, unhandled panics during handler executions, or unknown
 	// dispatcher actions.
-	// If nil, the error goes to ErrorLog.
+	// If nil, the error goes to the logger.
 	UnhandledErrFunc ErrorFunc
-	// ErrorLog specifies an optional logger for unexpected behavior from handlers.
-	// If nil, logging is done via the log package's standard logger.
-	ErrorLog *log.Logger
+	// Logger specifies an optional logger for unexpected behavior from handlers.
+	Logger *slog.Logger
 
 	// MaxRoutines is used to decide how to limit the number of goroutines spawned by the dispatcher.
 	// This defines how many updates can be processed at the same time.
@@ -127,23 +125,19 @@ func NewDispatcher(opts *DispatcherOpts) *Dispatcher {
 	var errHandler DispatcherErrorHandler
 	var panicHandler DispatcherPanicHandler
 	var unhandledErrFunc ErrorFunc
-	var errLog *log.Logger
+	logger := slog.Default()
 
 	maxRoutines := DefaultMaxRoutines
 	processor := Processor(BaseProcessor{})
 
 	if opts != nil {
-		if opts.MaxRoutines != 0 {
-			maxRoutines = opts.MaxRoutines
-		}
-		if opts.Processor != nil {
-			processor = opts.Processor
-		}
+		maxRoutines = iftrue(opts.MaxRoutines != 0, opts.MaxRoutines, maxRoutines)
+		processor = iftrue(opts.Processor != nil, opts.Processor, processor)
+		logger = iftrue(opts.Logger != nil, opts.Logger, logger)
 
 		errHandler = opts.Error
 		panicHandler = opts.Panic
 		unhandledErrFunc = opts.UnhandledErrFunc
-		errLog = opts.ErrorLog
 	}
 
 	var limiter chan struct{}
@@ -157,25 +151,17 @@ func NewDispatcher(opts *DispatcherOpts) *Dispatcher {
 	}
 
 	return &Dispatcher{
+		Logger:           logger.With("component", "dispatcher"),
 		Processor:        processor,
 		Error:            errHandler,
 		Panic:            panicHandler,
 		UnhandledErrFunc: unhandledErrFunc,
-		ErrorLog:         errLog,
 		handlers:         handlerMapping{},
 		limiter:          limiter,
 		waitGroup:        sync.WaitGroup{},
 	}
 }
 
-func (d *Dispatcher) logf(format string, args ...interface{}) {
-	if d.ErrorLog != nil {
-		d.ErrorLog.Printf(format, args...)
-	} else {
-		log.Printf(format, args...)
-	}
-}
-
 // CurrentUsage returns the current number of concurrently processing updates.
 func (d *Dispatcher) CurrentUsage() int {
 	return len(d.limiter)
@@ -215,7 +201,7 @@ func (d *Dispatcher) Start(b *gotgbot.Bot, updates <-chan json.RawMessage) {
 				if d.UnhandledErrFunc != nil {
 					d.UnhandledErrFunc(err)
 				} else {
-					d.logf("Failed to process update: %s", err.Error())
+					logError(d.Logger, "failed to process update", err)
 				}
 			}
 
@@ -299,8 +285,12 @@ func (d *Dispatcher) iterateOverHandlerGroups(b *gotgbot.Bot, ctx *Context) erro
 				continue
 			}
 
+			logDebug(d.Logger, "Matched handler on update", "handler", handler.Name())
+
 			err := handler.HandleUpdate(b, ctx)
 			if err != nil {
+				logDebug(d.Logger, "Update handling returned error", "handler", handler.Name(), "error", err.Error())
+
 				if errors.Is(err, ContinueGroups) {
 					// Continue handling current group.
 					continue
diff --git a/ext/updater.go b/ext/updater.go
index c67de096..fbb7c5bc 100644
--- a/ext/updater.go
+++ b/ext/updater.go
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ import (
 	"encoding/json"
 	"errors"
 	"fmt"
-	"log"
+	"log/slog"
 	"net"
 	"net/http"
 	"strconv"
@@ -32,11 +32,10 @@ type Updater struct {
 
 	// UnhandledErrFunc provides more flexibility for dealing with previously unhandled errors, such as failures to get
 	// updates (when long-polling), or failures to unmarshal.
-	// If nil, the error goes to ErrorLog.
+	// If nil, the error goes to the logger.
 	UnhandledErrFunc ErrorFunc
-	// ErrorLog specifies an optional logger for unexpected behavior from handlers.
-	// If nil, logging is done via the log package's standard logger.
-	ErrorLog *log.Logger
+	// Logger specifies an optional logger for unexpected behavior from handlers.
+	Logger *slog.Logger
 
 	// stopIdling is the channel that blocks the main thread from exiting, to keep the bots running.
 	stopIdling chan struct{}
@@ -51,42 +50,33 @@ type Updater struct {
 type UpdaterOpts struct {
 	// UnhandledErrFunc provides more flexibility for dealing with previously unhandled errors, such as failures to get
 	// updates (when long-polling), or failures to unmarshal.
-	// If nil, the error goes to ErrorLog.
+	// If nil, the error goes to the logger.
 	UnhandledErrFunc ErrorFunc
-	// ErrorLog specifies an optional logger for unexpected behavior from handlers.
-	// If nil, logging is done via the log package's standard logger.
-	ErrorLog *log.Logger
+	// Logger specifies an optional logger for unexpected behavior from handlers.
+	Logger *slog.Logger
 }
 
 // NewUpdater Creates a new Updater, as well as a Dispatcher and any optional updater configurations (via UpdaterOpts).
 func NewUpdater(dispatcher UpdateDispatcher, opts *UpdaterOpts) *Updater {
 	var unhandledErrFunc ErrorFunc
-	var errLog *log.Logger
+	logger := slog.Default()
 
 	if opts != nil {
+		logger = iftrue(opts.Logger == nil, logger, opts.Logger)
 		unhandledErrFunc = opts.UnhandledErrFunc
-		errLog = opts.ErrorLog
 	}
 
 	return &Updater{
 		Dispatcher:       dispatcher,
 		UnhandledErrFunc: unhandledErrFunc,
-		ErrorLog:         errLog,
+		Logger:           logger.With("component", "updater"),
 		botMapping: botMapping{
-			errFunc:  unhandledErrFunc,
-			errorLog: errLog,
+			errFunc: unhandledErrFunc,
+			logger:  logger.With("component", "botmapping"),
 		},
 	}
 }
 
-func (u *Updater) logf(format string, args ...interface{}) {
-	if u.ErrorLog != nil {
-		u.ErrorLog.Printf(format, args...)
-	} else {
-		log.Printf(format, args...)
-	}
-}
-
 // PollingOpts represents the optional values to start long polling.
 type PollingOpts struct {
 	// DropPendingUpdates toggles whether to drop updates which were sent before the bot was started.
@@ -196,7 +186,7 @@ func (u *Updater) pollingLoop(ctx context.Context, bData *botData, opts *gotgbot
 			if u.UnhandledErrFunc != nil {
 				u.UnhandledErrFunc(err)
 			} else {
-				u.logf("Failed to get updates; sleeping 1s: %s", err.Error())
+				logError(u.Logger, "failed to get updates; sleeping 1s", err)
 				time.Sleep(time.Second)
 			}
 			continue
@@ -210,7 +200,7 @@ func (u *Updater) pollingLoop(ctx context.Context, bData *botData, opts *gotgbot
 			if u.UnhandledErrFunc != nil {
 				u.UnhandledErrFunc(err)
 			} else {
-				u.logf("Failed to unmarshal updates: %s", err.Error())
+				logError(u.Logger, "failed to unmarshal updates", err)
 			}
 			continue
 		}
@@ -228,7 +218,7 @@ func (u *Updater) pollingLoop(ctx context.Context, bData *botData, opts *gotgbot
 			if u.UnhandledErrFunc != nil {
 				u.UnhandledErrFunc(err)
 			} else {
-				u.logf("Failed to unmarshal last update: %s", err.Error())
+				logError(u.Logger, "failed to unmarshal last update", err)
 			}
 			continue
 		}
diff --git a/go.mod b/go.mod
index 52478bc3..aaf7bf17 100644
--- a/go.mod
+++ b/go.mod
@@ -1,3 +1,3 @@
 module github.com/PaulSonOfLars/gotgbot/v2
 
-go 1.19
+go 1.21
diff --git a/samples/callbackqueryBot/go.mod b/samples/callbackqueryBot/go.mod
index 9194fac1..3c4afe25 100644
--- a/samples/callbackqueryBot/go.mod
+++ b/samples/callbackqueryBot/go.mod
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 module github.com/PaulSonOfLars/gotgbot/samples/callbackqueryBot
 
-go 1.19
+go 1.21
 
 require github.com/PaulSonOfLars/gotgbot/v2 v2.99.99
 
diff --git a/samples/commandBot/go.mod b/samples/commandBot/go.mod
index fa05ced1..0936caca 100644
--- a/samples/commandBot/go.mod
+++ b/samples/commandBot/go.mod
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 module github.com/PaulSonOfLars/gotgbot/samples/commandBot
 
-go 1.19
+go 1.21
 
 require github.com/PaulSonOfLars/gotgbot/v2 v2.99.99
 
diff --git a/samples/conversationBot/go.mod b/samples/conversationBot/go.mod
index 64e8d1c2..4552f3b6 100644
--- a/samples/conversationBot/go.mod
+++ b/samples/conversationBot/go.mod
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 module github.com/PaulSonOfLars/gotgbot/samples/conversationBot
 
-go 1.19
+go 1.21
 
 require github.com/PaulSonOfLars/gotgbot/v2 v2.99.99
 
diff --git a/samples/echoBot/go.mod b/samples/echoBot/go.mod
index 9a4170c2..08afba25 100644
--- a/samples/echoBot/go.mod
+++ b/samples/echoBot/go.mod
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 module github.com/PaulSonOfLars/gotgbot/samples/echoBot
 
-go 1.19
+go 1.21
 
 require github.com/PaulSonOfLars/gotgbot/v2 v2.99.99
 
diff --git a/samples/echoMultiBot/go.mod b/samples/echoMultiBot/go.mod
index 68a691b8..0fee33cb 100644
--- a/samples/echoMultiBot/go.mod
+++ b/samples/echoMultiBot/go.mod
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 module github.com/PaulSonOfLars/gotgbot/samples/echoMultiBot
 
-go 1.19
+go 1.21
 
 require github.com/PaulSonOfLars/gotgbot/v2 v2.99.99
 
diff --git a/samples/echoWebhookBot/go.mod b/samples/echoWebhookBot/go.mod
index 93f3c4db..85dee761 100644
--- a/samples/echoWebhookBot/go.mod
+++ b/samples/echoWebhookBot/go.mod
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 module github.com/PaulSonOfLars/gotgbot/samples/echoWebhookBot
 
-go 1.19
+go 1.21
 
 require github.com/PaulSonOfLars/gotgbot/v2 v2.99.99
 
diff --git a/samples/inlinequeryBot/go.mod b/samples/inlinequeryBot/go.mod
index cd2b88da..3a1edf95 100644
--- a/samples/inlinequeryBot/go.mod
+++ b/samples/inlinequeryBot/go.mod
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 module github.com/PaulSonOfLars/gotgbot/samples/inlinequeryBot
 
-go 1.19
+go 1.21
 
 require github.com/PaulSonOfLars/gotgbot/v2 v2.99.99
 
diff --git a/samples/metricsBot/go.mod b/samples/metricsBot/go.mod
index 2a9ed775..b5510c52 100644
--- a/samples/metricsBot/go.mod
+++ b/samples/metricsBot/go.mod
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 module github.com/PaulSonOfLars/gotgbot/samples/metricsBot
 
-go 1.19
+go 1.21
 
 require (
 	github.com/PaulSonOfLars/gotgbot/v2 v2.99.99
diff --git a/samples/metricsBot/go.sum b/samples/metricsBot/go.sum
index 5c4add19..61b79d2f 100644
--- a/samples/metricsBot/go.sum
+++ b/samples/metricsBot/go.sum
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ github.com/golang/protobuf v1.5.3 h1:KhyjKVUg7Usr/dYsdSqoFveMYd5ko72D+zANwlG1mmg
 github.com/golang/protobuf v1.5.3/go.mod h1:XVQd3VNwM+JqD3oG2Ue2ip4fOMUkwXdXDdiuN0vRsmY=
 github.com/google/go-cmp v0.5.5/go.mod h1:v8dTdLbMG2kIc/vJvl+f65V22dbkXbowE6jgT/gNBxE=
 github.com/google/go-cmp v0.5.9 h1:O2Tfq5qg4qc4AmwVlvv0oLiVAGB7enBSJ2x2DqQFi38=
+github.com/google/go-cmp v0.5.9/go.mod h1:17dUlkBOakJ0+DkrSSNjCkIjxS6bF9zb3elmeNGIjoY=
 github.com/matttproud/golang_protobuf_extensions v1.0.4 h1:mmDVorXM7PCGKw94cs5zkfA9PSy5pEvNWRP0ET0TIVo=
 github.com/matttproud/golang_protobuf_extensions v1.0.4/go.mod h1:BSXmuO+STAnVfrANrmjBb36TMTDstsz7MSK+HVaYKv4=
 github.com/prometheus/client_golang v1.16.0 h1:yk/hx9hDbrGHovbci4BY+pRMfSuuat626eFsHb7tmT8=
diff --git a/samples/middlewareBot/go.mod b/samples/middlewareBot/go.mod
index bc9d8b63..81a84002 100644
--- a/samples/middlewareBot/go.mod
+++ b/samples/middlewareBot/go.mod
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 module github.com/PaulSonOfLars/gotgbot/samples/middlewareBot
 
-go 1.19
+go 1.21
 
 require github.com/PaulSonOfLars/gotgbot/v2 v2.99.99
 
diff --git a/samples/paymentsBot/go.mod b/samples/paymentsBot/go.mod
index 55d489d7..a1067982 100644
--- a/samples/paymentsBot/go.mod
+++ b/samples/paymentsBot/go.mod
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 module github.com/PaulSonOfLars/gotgbot/samples/paymentsBot
 
-go 1.19
+go 1.21
 
 require (
 	github.com/PaulSonOfLars/gotgbot/v2 v2.99.99
diff --git a/samples/statefulClientBot/go.mod b/samples/statefulClientBot/go.mod
index 1b3dcae0..65dcb7a1 100644
--- a/samples/statefulClientBot/go.mod
+++ b/samples/statefulClientBot/go.mod
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 module github.com/PaulSonOfLars/gotgbot/samples/statefulClientBot
 
-go 1.19
+go 1.21
 
 require github.com/PaulSonOfLars/gotgbot/v2 v2.99.99
 
diff --git a/samples/webappBot/go.mod b/samples/webappBot/go.mod
index 5c5c26f0..1f7401eb 100644
--- a/samples/webappBot/go.mod
+++ b/samples/webappBot/go.mod
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 module github.com/PaulSonOfLars/gotgbot/samples/webappBot
 
-go 1.19
+go 1.21
 
 require github.com/PaulSonOfLars/gotgbot/v2 v2.99.99
 
diff --git a/scripts/ci/ensure-consistent-sample-mod-files.sh b/scripts/ci/ensure-consistent-sample-mod-files.sh
index 6d528f26..992f6d2e 100755
--- a/scripts/ci/ensure-consistent-sample-mod-files.sh
+++ b/scripts/ci/ensure-consistent-sample-mod-files.sh
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ set -euo pipefail
 SAMPLES_DIR="samples"
 
 REPO="github.com/PaulSonOfLars/gotgbot" # Current library import path
-GO_VERSION="1.19"                       # Go version we expect our samples to be using
+GO_VERSION="1.21"                       # Go version we expect our samples to be using
 V_MAJOR="v2"                            # Current major version for the library
 V_DUMMY="v2.99.99"                      # dummy version for the library