What is MCP?

MCP (Model Context Protocol) is an open protocol that standardizes how applications provide context to Large Language Models (LLMs). Think of MCP like a USB-C port for AI applications. Just as USB-C provides a standardized way to connect your devices to various peripherals and accessories, MCP provides a standardized way to connect AI models to different data sources and tools.

How MCP Works

MCP follows a client-server architecture:

Host Applications: Programs like Claude Desktop, IDEs, or AI tools that want to access data through MCP
MCP Clients: Protocol clients that maintain connections with servers
MCP Servers: Lightweight programs that each expose specific capabilities through the standardized protocol
Data Sources: Your computer's files, databases, or external services that MCP servers can access

A more comprehensive explanation of the architecture is available in the architecture section.

Why Use MCP?

Reusable Connections

Build an MCP server once, and it works with all MCP-compatible AI applications

Local-First

Keep your data secure within your infrastructure

Growing Ecosystem

Access a library of pre-built integrations for common tools and data sources

What Can MCP Do?

MCP servers can provide three main types of capabilities:

Resources: File-like data that can be read by clients (like API responses or file contents)
Tools: Functions that can be called by the LLM (with user approval)
Prompts: Pre-written templates that help users accomplish specific tasks

For the latest MCP specification, visit modelcontextprotocol.io.

Introduction