Model Context Protocol
A standard protocol (MCP) for connecting AI models to external data sources, tools, and services through a unified interface.
Overview
The Model Context Protocol (MCP), introduced by Anthropic, is an open standard that provides a universal way for AI models to connect with external tools, data sources, and services. It standardizes how context is provided to models, similar to how USB standardized device connections.
Architecture
MCP uses a client-server architecture where MCP servers expose resources (data) and tools (actions) through a standard interface. AI applications (MCP clients) can connect to multiple servers simultaneously. This enables AI assistants to access files, databases, APIs, and other services through a consistent protocol rather than custom integrations for each.