# MCP

Concept · [Building with AI](https://ecosystem.samcarlton.com/ai)

Also called: Model Context Protocol, MCP server, MCP servers, connector, connectors, M C P

Model Context Protocol. An open standard for connecting AI applications to outside tools and data sources. It was created at [Anthropic](https://ecosystem.samcarlton.com/claude) and released as [open source](https://ecosystem.samcarlton.com/open-source) in 2024, and other vendors' products support it.

**For example:** A company sets up an MCP server for its customer [database](https://ecosystem.samcarlton.com/database). Staff can then ask an [AI assistant](https://ecosystem.samcarlton.com/chatbot) questions that it answers from that data.

## Connects to (4)

- [Tool use](https://ecosystem.samcarlton.com/tool-use): A way for a model to ask the software around it to run a defined action, such as a search or a database lookup, and send back the result.
- [AI agent](https://ecosystem.samcarlton.com/ai-agent): An AI tool that does more than answer a question.
- [API](https://ecosystem.samcarlton.com/terms/api): Application programming interface.
- [Open source](https://ecosystem.samcarlton.com/open-source): Software whose code is published for anyone to read, use and build on, under a license that sets the rules for doing so.

Map view: https://ecosystem.samcarlton.com/terms/mcp