What Is MCP (Model Context Protocol)?
By Karthick Selvam · Published · Updated
The Model Context Protocol is an open standard for connecting AI applications to external tools and data sources.
The problem it solves
Each AI application used to need custom integrations for each data source. MCP defines a common protocol so a tool exposed once as an MCP server can be used by any MCP-compatible client.
How it works
An MCP server exposes capabilities such as tools (actions), resources (data) and prompts. An AI client connects to servers and lets the model use those capabilities.
Who uses it
It was introduced by Anthropic in late 2024 and has since been adopted by many AI tools and developer platforms.
Security considerations
Connecting a model to tools expands what it can do. Review server permissions, authentication and the trustworthiness of third-party servers.
Frequently asked questions
Is MCP tied to one AI vendor?
No. It is an open specification with implementations across multiple vendors.
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