What is MCP?
The Model Context Protocol (MCP) is an open, JSON-RPC-based standard that serves as a universal adapter between large language models (LLMs) and external data sources or capabilities. Rather than requiring developers to build custom connectors for each integration, MCP enables any compatible client (e.g., Claude Desktop, VS Code, Slack bots) to access resources (like Google Drive, Git repos, or databases) and execute actions (like sending emails or running SQL queries) through a unified client-server architecture.
The protocol defines standardized message formats and interaction lifecycles, allowing LLMs to incorporate external context, data, and tools beyond their training sets. MCP makes bespoke integrations less necessary by providing a single, standardized interface that works across the entire AI ecosystem.
