Model Context Protocol
An open standard, started by Anthropic in 2024 and now run under the Linux Foundation, for connecting AI systems and agents to outside tools and data in one common way.
Wikipedia says: “The Model Context Protocol (MCP) is an open standard and open-source framework introduced by Anthropic in November 2024 to standardize the way artificial intelligence (AI) systems like large language models (LLMs) integrate and share data with external tools, systems, and data sources.”
Also called
- MCP
Kinds
- MCP server A program that uses MCP to offer tools or data to agents, running on your own computer or as a hosted service; it is one way to build a connector.
The other half
- A2A An open standard, created by Google and now run by the Linux Foundation, that lets agents from different vendors communicate and work together.
Related
- Tool A single action, such as running a task or a function, that an agent can call.
How it connects
- Connector often built on Model Context Protocol