An open protocol (created by Anthropic) that standardizes how AI models connect to external tools and data sources. Think of it as USB-C for AI — one standard interface instead of custom integrations for every tool. MCP servers expose capabilities; MCP clients (like Claude) consume them.
Why it matters
Before MCP, every AI-tool integration was bespoke. MCP means a tool built once works with any compatible AI. It's already supported by Claude, Cursor, and others. This is how AI goes from chatbot to actual assistant.