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What is the Model Context Protocol?

Also: MCP, model context protocol

The Model Context Protocol (MCP) is an open standard for connecting AI applications to external tools and data sources through a common client–server interface.

The Model Context Protocol defines how an AI application (the client) and a capability provider (the server) exchange messages: how a server advertises its tools, resources, and prompts, and how a client calls them. Because the interface is standardized, any compliant client can work with any compliant server.

The protocol was introduced by Anthropic in late 2024 and is published as an open specification that anyone can implement. mcpfold is an independent tool built on top of the protocol and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the MCP project.

A growing set of clients — including Claude Code, Cursor, VS Code, and many others — implement MCP, which is what lets one mcpfold config serve all of them.

Related

mcpfold is an independent, open-source project. The Model Context Protocol is an open standard; mcpfold is not affiliated with or endorsed by the MCP project.