Technology & AI
What is MCP (Model Context Protocol)?
MCP is Anthropic's open protocol for LLMs to access external tools and data in a standardized way — "USB-C for AI agents".
Before MCP, each tool integration was custom (LangChain, proprietary function calling). MCP standardizes: server exposes tools/resources, any LLM client (Claude, Cursor, etc) consumes.
In 2026, MCP became the dominant protocol: GitHub, Slack, Linear, Supabase and hundreds more expose MCP servers. Building a product without MCP is like building SaaS without REST API.
Related terms
Frequently asked questions
Does MCP replace REST API?
No. MCP is a layer on top — describes tools (not data) for LLMs to consume with clear semantics.
Who maintains MCP?
Anthropic created it, but the protocol is open-source. All major clients (Cursor, Claude Code, OpenAI) support it.