What is MCP?
Model Context Protocol (MCP) is an open standard that enables seamless integration between AI applications and external data sources. Developed by Anthropic, MCP provides a universal protocol for connecting AI assistants like Claude to various tools, databases, and services.
Why MCP Servers Matter
MCP servers act as intermediaries that expose functionality to AI systems in a standardized way. Instead of building custom integrations for each AI assistant, developers can create a single MCP server that works with any MCP-compatible client.
Key Benefits
Standardization: MCP provides a consistent interface for AI integrations, reducing development time and complexity.
Security: MCP servers can implement authentication, authorization, and rate limiting to protect sensitive resources.
Flexibility: Connect AI assistants to databases, APIs, file systems, and custom business logic through a single protocol.
Reusability: Build once, use across multiple AI applications and platforms.
Common Use Cases
MCP servers can be used for a wide range of applications, including:
- Accessing internal databases and APIs
- Integrating with CMS platforms like Umbraco
- Connecting to business tools and services
- Providing real-time data to AI assistants
- Enabling file system operations
Getting Started
To start building with MCP, check out the official Model Context Protocol documentation. The protocol supports multiple programming languages and includes SDKs for quick development.
For Umbraco developers, MCP opens up exciting possibilities for integrating AI capabilities directly into content management workflows, enabling intelligent content creation, automated tagging, and more.