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AI & Machine Learning · Intermediate

Model Context Protocol (MCP)

An open protocol, introduced by Anthropic, that standardizes how AI applications connect to tools, data sources and prompts.

Definition

MCP uses a client-server model over JSON-RPC: hosts (such as Claude apps or IDEs) run MCP clients that connect to MCP servers exposing tools, resources and prompts. Transports include stdio for local servers and Streamable HTTP for remote servers, with OAuth-based authorization. MCP is now supported across many vendors, letting one integration work with many AI applications.

Example

Connecting an MCP server for a ticketing system so any MCP-compatible assistant can search and update tickets.

Exam tip

MCP standardizes tool and data integration; it does not replace the model's own tool-use mechanism.

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