What is MCP?
MCP provides a standardized way for AI assistants like Claude to:- Connect to external tools and services
- Access data from various sources
- Perform actions on behalf of users
- Maintain security and user control
How MCP works
Local vs remote servers
| Type | Description | Use Case |
|---|---|---|
| Local MCP | Runs on your device | Desktop integrations, local tools |
| Remote MCP | Hosted on the internet | Web services, cloud applications |
Key components
- Tools: Actions Claude can perform (search, create, modify)
- Resources: Data Claude can access (files, documents, records)
- Prompts: Predefined interactions for specific tasks
Security model
User control
- You authenticate each connector individually
- Permissions mirror your access on the external service
- You can disconnect at any time
Tool hints
All MCP tools must declare:readOnlyHint: Tool only reads datadestructiveHint: Tool can modify or delete data
Building with MCP
The MCP documentation is the source of truth for building MCP servers.For developers
- Open specification at modelcontextprotocol.io
- TypeScript SDK and Python SDK available
- Cloudflare hosting support with OAuth