Definition
Model Context Protocol (MCP) is a protocol for connecting AI systems with external tools and data sources.
The core idea is to allow a model-powered application to obtain context or perform actions through external systems. For example, a travel assistant could potentially connect to external airline systems to retrieve flight information. The AI application can use that external information as context and, where supported, invoke an action such as booking a flight.
This extends an AI application’s capabilities beyond information already contained inside the model or its own internal knowledge sources.
Why It Matters
MCP helps you understand how AI applications can connect with external systems — a key building block for anything beyond a pure chat interface.