Model Context Protocol (MCP)

Understanding the open standard powering Claude’s connectors

The Model Context Protocol (MCP) is an open standard created by Anthropic for AI applications to connect with tools and data sources.

What is MCP?

MCP provides a standardized way for AI assistants like Claude to:

• Connect to external tools and services
• Access data from various sources
• Perform actions on behalf of users
• Maintain security and user control

How MCP works

Local vs remote servers

Type	Description	Use Case
Local MCP	Runs on your device	Desktop integrations, local tools
Remote MCP	Hosted on the internet	Web services, cloud applications

Key components

• Tools: Actions Claude can perform (search, create, modify)
• Resources: Data Claude can access (files, documents, records)
• Prompts: Predefined interactions for specific tasks

Security model

User control

• You authenticate each connector individually
• Permissions mirror your access on the external service
• You can disconnect at any time

Tool hints

All MCP tools must declare:

• readOnlyHint: Tool only reads data
• destructiveHint: Tool can modify or delete data

This helps Claude and users understand what actions are possible.

Building with MCP

The MCP documentation is the source of truth for building MCP servers.

For developers

• Open specification at modelcontextprotocol.io
• TypeScript SDK and Python SDK available
• Cloudflare hosting support with OAuth

Submitting to directory

Organizations can submit MCP servers to the Connectors Directory for broader availability.

Related topics

MCP in Claude Code

Connect MCP servers to Claude Code from the command line.

Submit to Directory

Review requirements and submit your connector.