# What Is MCP (Model Context Protocol)?

> MCP is an open standard for connecting AI agents to external data sources and tools through a unified interface — like USB-C for agent integrations.

**Term:** Model Context Protocol  
**Category:** Ecosystem  
**Also known as:** MCP, Anthropic MCP  
**Updated:** 2026-07-22  
**Canonical:** https://www.frameworkr.com/glossary/model-context-protocol

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The **Model Context Protocol (MCP)** is an open standard for connecting AI agents to external data sources, tools, and services through a unified interface.

Think of MCP as a standard plug for agent integrations — instead of building custom connectors for every database, API, or file system, tools expose an MCP server that any compatible agent runtime can connect to.

## What MCP provides

- **Tools** — Callable functions the agent can invoke
- **Resources** — Readable data sources (files, database records, API responses)
- **Prompts** — Pre-built prompt templates for common tasks

## Why MCP matters

Before MCP, every agent framework had its own tool integration pattern. MCP standardizes the connection layer so:

- Tool builders write one MCP server, agents everywhere can use it
- Agent runtimes swap tools without rewriting integration code
- Security and permissions are handled at the protocol level

## MCP in the agent stack

MCP sits between the agent runtime and external systems:

```
Agent (LLM + loop) → MCP client → MCP server → Database / API / Files
```

Frameworks like Eve, Claude Desktop, and others support MCP natively. It complements (rather than replaces) function calling — MCP is the transport; function calling is how the model selects what to invoke.

## Related reading

See [What Is Eve?](/blog/what-is-eve-vercels-agent-framework) for how MCP fits into Vercel's agent framework, and [Tool Use](/glossary/tool-use) for the broader pattern.

## Related terms

- [tool use](https://www.frameworkr.com/glossary/tool-use.md)
- [function calling](https://www.frameworkr.com/glossary/function-calling.md)
- [ai agent](https://www.frameworkr.com/glossary/ai-agent.md)


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_Published by Frameworkr — https://www.frameworkr.com_