Model Context Protocol (MCP)
The Model Context Protocol is an open standard for connecting AI models to external tools, data sources, and systems through a common interface. It lets any compliant client and server exchange context, tools, and resources, so integrations are reusable across applications rather than rebuilt for each model or vendor.
Definition
Model Context Protocol (MCP)MCP, introduced by Anthropic and adopted broadly, defines a client-server protocol in which MCP servers expose tools, resources, and prompts, and MCP clients — such as AI applications and agents — discover and call them. This decouples what a model can do from how each capability is implemented.
By standardizing the connection layer, MCP reduces the combinatorial cost of wiring many models to many tools. A single MCP server for a data source can serve any MCP-aware client, which is why it has become a common foundation for agentic and tool-augmented systems.
Frequently asked questions
What is Model Context Protocol (MCP)?
The Model Context Protocol is an open standard for connecting AI models to external tools, data sources, and systems through a common interface. It lets any compliant client and server exchange context, tools, and resources, so integrations are reusable across applications rather than rebuilt for each model or vendor.
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