What is the Model Context Protocol (MCP) and how does it streamline tools?
Reviewed by Jason Burns, Editorial Steward · Last updated
The Model Context Protocol (MCP) is an open standard introduced by Anthropic in late 2024 that defines a common way for AI applications to connect to external tools, data sources, and services through typed, discoverable interfaces. As Anthropic, put it on the record: "MCP is an open protocol that standardizes how applications provide context to LLMs. Think of MCP like a USB-C port for AI applications."