The Universal Standard for AI Integration
Model Context Protocol is a universal standard for connecting AI applications with external tools and data sources.
It provides a common language so that AI apps and tools can work together without custom integrations.
MCP is like USB-C for AI — one standard connection works everywhere across different platforms.
This protocol creates a unified foundation for AI ecosystem integration and interoperability.
Without MCP, each of M AI applications must integrate separately with each of N tools, creating M×N custom connections.
This approach leads to high complexity, duplication, and maintenance costs across the AI ecosystem.
For instance, 5 AI apps × 10 tools = 50 separate integrations needed without MCP standardization.
With MCP, each AI app implements the client once and each tool implements the server once, reducing total integrations to M + N.
The main AI application (e.g., ChatGPT, Claude, n8n) that handles user interactions and uses the MCP client internally.
A component inside the Host that communicates with servers, acting as a translator that knows how to use tools without containing them.
Provides the actual tools, data, or resources, running locally or remotely and advertising its available capabilities.
Each component has a distinct role: Host manages user interaction, Client handles communication, Server provides functionality.
User sends a request to the Host, initiating the interaction process with the AI application.
Host passes the request to the Client, which then connects to the relevant Server for the required functionality.
Server shares the tools and resources it can provide, allowing the Client to identify the appropriate capabilities.
Client calls the tool on behalf of the Host, Server executes it and returns results, then Host shows the result back to the User.
MCP provides Tools (executable actions), Resources (read-only data), Prompts (pre-defined templates), and Sampling (recursive workflows).
One protocol works across all apps and tools, creating universal compatibility and reducing integration friction.
Reduces integration complexity from M×N to M+N, making the ecosystem more efficient and maintainable.
Clear separation of capabilities between tools and resources provides better security and control over AI interactions.