Anthropic’s Model Context Protocol (MCP) is an open, standardized framework designed to seamlessly connect large language models (LLMs) like Claude to external tools, data sources, and services. Think of it as the “USB-C for AI”—a universal interface that simplifies and standardizes integrations across diverse systems.
The Model Context Protocol (MCP) goes beyond traditional tool-calling methods by equipping AI agents with richer contextual information about tools, including their schemas and available resources. This enables agents to understand and interact with tools more intelligently and adaptively, moving past rigid, hardcoded behaviors.
Introducing the Model Context Protocol
The Model Context Protocol (MCP) is an open standard for connecting AI assistants to the systems where data lives, including content repositories, business tools, and development environments. Its aim is to help frontier models produce better, more relevant responses.