modelcontextprotocol-introduction.md•5.61 kB
https://modelcontextprotocol.io/introduction
# Introduction
> Get started with the Model Context Protocol (MCP)
<Note>C# SDK released! Check out [what else is new.](/development/updates)</Note>
MCP is an open protocol that standardizes how applications provide context to LLMs. Think of MCP like a USB-C port for AI applications. Just as USB-C provides a standardized way to connect your devices to various peripherals and accessories, MCP provides a standardized way to connect AI models to different data sources and tools.
## Why MCP?
MCP helps you build agents and complex workflows on top of LLMs. LLMs frequently need to integrate with data and tools, and MCP provides:
* A growing list of pre-built integrations that your LLM can directly plug into
* The flexibility to switch between LLM providers and vendors
* Best practices for securing your data within your infrastructure
### General architecture
At its core, MCP follows a client-server architecture where a host application can connect to multiple servers:
```mermaid
flowchart LR
subgraph "Your Computer"
Host["Host with MCP Client\n(Claude, IDEs, Tools)"]
S1["MCP Server A"]
S2["MCP Server B"]
S3["MCP Server C"]
Host <-->|"MCP Protocol"| S1
Host <-->|"MCP Protocol"| S2
Host <-->|"MCP Protocol"| S3
S1 <--> D1[("Local\nData Source A")]
S2 <--> D2[("Local\nData Source B")]
end
subgraph "Internet"
S3 <-->|"Web APIs"| D3[("Remote\nService C")]
end
```
* **MCP Hosts**: Programs like Claude Desktop, IDEs, or AI tools that want to access data through MCP
* **MCP Clients**: Protocol clients that maintain 1:1 connections with servers
* **MCP Servers**: Lightweight programs that each expose specific capabilities through the standardized Model Context Protocol
* **Local Data Sources**: Your computer's files, databases, and services that MCP servers can securely access
* **Remote Services**: External systems available over the internet (e.g., through APIs) that MCP servers can connect to
## Get started
Choose the path that best fits your needs:
#### Quick Starts
<CardGroup cols={2}>
<Card title="For Server Developers" icon="bolt" href="/quickstart/server">
Get started building your own server to use in Claude for Desktop and other clients
</Card>
<Card title="For Client Developers" icon="bolt" href="/quickstart/client">
Get started building your own client that can integrate with all MCP servers
</Card>
<Card title="For Claude Desktop Users" icon="bolt" href="/quickstart/user">
Get started using pre-built servers in Claude for Desktop
</Card>
</CardGroup>
#### Examples
<CardGroup cols={2}>
<Card title="Example Servers" icon="grid" href="/examples">
Check out our gallery of official MCP servers and implementations
</Card>
<Card title="Example Clients" icon="cubes" href="/clients">
View the list of clients that support MCP integrations
</Card>
</CardGroup>
## Tutorials
<CardGroup cols={2}>
<Card title="Building MCP with LLMs" icon="comments" href="/tutorials/building-mcp-with-llms">
Learn how to use LLMs like Claude to speed up your MCP development
</Card>
<Card title="Debugging Guide" icon="bug" href="/docs/tools/debugging">
Learn how to effectively debug MCP servers and integrations
</Card>
<Card title="MCP Inspector" icon="magnifying-glass" href="/docs/tools/inspector">
Test and inspect your MCP servers with our interactive debugging tool
</Card>
<Card title="MCP Workshop (Video, 2hr)" icon="person-chalkboard" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kQmXtrmQ5Zg">
<iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/kQmXtrmQ5Zg" />
</Card>
</CardGroup>
## Explore MCP
Dive deeper into MCP's core concepts and capabilities:
<CardGroup cols={2}>
<Card title="Core architecture" icon="sitemap" href="/docs/concepts/architecture">
Understand how MCP connects clients, servers, and LLMs
</Card>
<Card title="Resources" icon="database" href="/docs/concepts/resources">
Expose data and content from your servers to LLMs
</Card>
<Card title="Prompts" icon="message" href="/docs/concepts/prompts">
Create reusable prompt templates and workflows
</Card>
<Card title="Tools" icon="wrench" href="/docs/concepts/tools">
Enable LLMs to perform actions through your server
</Card>
<Card title="Sampling" icon="robot" href="/docs/concepts/sampling">
Let your servers request completions from LLMs
</Card>
<Card title="Transports" icon="network-wired" href="/docs/concepts/transports">
Learn about MCP's communication mechanism
</Card>
</CardGroup>
## Contributing
Want to contribute? Check out our [Contributing Guide](/development/contributing) to learn how you can help improve MCP.
## Support and Feedback
Here's how to get help or provide feedback:
* For bug reports and feature requests related to the MCP specification, SDKs, or documentation (open source), please [create a GitHub issue](https://github.com/modelcontextprotocol)
* For discussions or Q\&A about the MCP specification, use the [specification discussions](https://github.com/modelcontextprotocol/specification/discussions)
* For discussions or Q\&A about other MCP open source components, use the [organization discussions](https://github.com/orgs/modelcontextprotocol/discussions)
* For bug reports, feature requests, and questions related to Claude.app and claude.ai's MCP integration, please see Anthropic's guide on [How to Get Support](https://support.anthropic.com/en/articles/9015913-how-to-get-support)