A Universal Protocol
MCP lets AI models interact with external tools, databases, and APIs through a standardized protocol. Think of it as USB-C for AI integrations -- one connector that works everywhere, replacing dozens of custom adapters.
The open standard for connecting AI assistants to the tools, data, and systems they need. Learn MCP with interactive tutorials and a complete server directory.
Every AI × every tool = custom integration
One protocol connects everything
MCP lets AI models interact with external tools, databases, and APIs through a standardized protocol. Think of it as USB-C for AI integrations -- one connector that works everywhere, replacing dozens of custom adapters.
Before MCP, every AI assistant needed custom code for every tool. Now there is one protocol to connect any AI assistant to any tool. No more bespoke integrations per model. Build once, connect everywhere.
MCP servers expose tools, resources, and prompts. Clients like Claude Desktop and Cursor connect to servers and use them. The protocol handles capability negotiation, request routing, and data serialization automatically.
+--------------------------------------------------+
| CLIENT APPLICATION |
| Claude Desktop / Cursor / Your App |
+--------------------------------------------------+
|
| MCP Protocol (JSON-RPC 2.0)
| stdio / SSE transport
|
+--------------------------------------------------+
| MCP SERVER |
| Exposes: Tools / Resources / Prompts |
+--------------------------------------------------+
|
| Native APIs & SDKs
|
+--------------------------------------------------+
| EXTERNAL SYSTEMS |
| Databases / APIs / File Systems / Services |
+--------------------------------------------------+
Functions the AI can call. Like "search_files", "run_query", or "send_message". The server defines the schema, the client invokes them.
Data the AI can read. Like file contents, database records, or API responses. Resources are identified by URIs and can be subscribed to for updates.
Pre-built prompt templates the server provides. Users can select them from the client UI. Prompts can include dynamic arguments and embedded resources.
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Download Claude Desktop, Cursor, or any MCP-compatible client. These applications know how to connect to and communicate with MCP servers.
Edit your client configuration file to add an MCP server. For Claude Desktop, this means adding an entry to claude_desktop_config.json.
Start a conversation and the AI can now use the tools exposed by your MCP server. Ask it to read files, query databases, or call APIs naturally.
{
"mcpServers": {
"filesystem": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"@modelcontextprotocol/server-filesystem",
"/Users/you/Documents"
]
}
}
}Install your first MCP server and connect Claude to your tools in minutes.
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