MCP (Model Context Protocol)
Agents & AutomationAn open protocol by Anthropic that standardizes how AI models connect to external tools, data sources, and services — like a universal adapter for AI capabilities.
MCP (Model Context Protocol) is a standard that lets AI models talk to external tools in a unified way. Before MCP, every AI tool integration required custom code — connecting Claude to your database was different from connecting it to your email was different from connecting it to Slack. MCP standardizes this.
Think of MCP like USB for AI. Just as USB created a universal port for hardware, MCP creates a universal protocol for AI tool connections. An MCP server exposes capabilities (read files, query database, send messages), and any MCP-compatible AI client can use them.
MCP is already supported by Claude Code, Cursor, and other AI coding tools. The ecosystem of MCP servers is growing rapidly, with servers for GitHub, Slack, databases, file systems, and hundreds of other services.
Real-World Example
Claude Code uses MCP to connect to external services — you can add MCP servers for GitHub
Related Terms
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FAQ
What is MCP (Model Context Protocol)?
An open protocol by Anthropic that standardizes how AI models connect to external tools, data sources, and services — like a universal adapter for AI capabilities.
How is MCP (Model Context Protocol) used in practice?
Claude Code uses MCP to connect to external services — you can add MCP servers for GitHub
What concepts are related to MCP (Model Context Protocol)?
Key related concepts include Tool Use (Function Calling), AI Agent, API (Application Programming Interface). Understanding these together gives a more complete picture of how MCP (Model Context Protocol) fits into the AI landscape.