The Model Context Protocol (MCP) is an open standard and open-source framework introduced by Anthropic in November 2024. It standardizes the way artificial intelligence (AI) systems, particularly large language models (LLMs), integrate and share data with external tools, systems, and data sources. MCP works as a universal interface that enables AI models to read files, execute functions, and handle contextual prompts securely and reliably. It solves the challenge of connecting AI with various data sources and tools without the need for custom connectors for each source. This makes AI more capable of accessing real-time information and taking action beyond their original training data. Key points about MCP:
- It uses a client-server architecture with MCP hosts (AI tools), MCP clients (which manage communication), and MCP servers (which expose specific external data or tool capabilities).
- MCP supports local and remote resources, from file systems and databases to APIs and cloud services.
- It uses JSON-RPC 2.0 for communication over standard transport layers like standard input/output or HTTP with server-sent events.
- MCP enables AI assistants to perform complex, multi-tool workflows, such as retrieving data from documents, databases, or chat apps, and executing actions.
- It is used in applications like AI-enhanced IDEs, desktop assistants, business automation, and web app development platforms.
In essence, MCP acts like a universal "USB-C port" for AI applications, enabling seamless and standardized connectivity across many types of external services and data, making AI tools more functional and versatile in real-world use.
