Direct Answer
The Model Context Protocol (MCP) is an open standard announced by Anthropic in November 2024 that standardizes how AI applications (such as Claude Desktop and Cursor) connect to external data sources and tools. Instead of a custom integration per source, a developer builds one MCP server that every supporting application can use. The official specification lives at modelcontextprotocol.io.
How It Works: The Client???Server Model
MCP uses a three-part architecture: a host application runs MCP clients that connect to MCP servers. Each server can expose callable Tools, readable Resources, and reusable Prompt templates. Communication uses JSON-RPC ??? locally over stdio or remotely over HTTP. Source: the official specification.
The Problem It Solves
Before MCP, connecting an AI assistant to a database or codebase required a bespoke integration per app???source pair: N apps ?? M sources meant N??M integrations. MCP reduces this to roughly N+M: each app implements the protocol once, each server is built once ??? the same logic that made USB universal.
Industry Adoption
After Anthropic launched MCP, both OpenAI (March 2025) and Google DeepMind announced support, per TechCrunch coverage and the companies' official blogs. Thousands of community servers exist today ??? explore the largest confidence-scored directory in [our MCP Servers Directory](/en/mcp).
Honest Limitations
Exact adoption figures change quickly and are only stated with a clear verification date. Pricing and licensing differ per server ??? we show Unknown until verified from each project's official repository. Never rely on a number here without checking its linked source.
How to Choose an MCP Server
Practical criteria: is the repository active? What license? Does the description genuinely match your need? Our directory evaluates 400+ servers with a transparent confidence formula combining source quality, freshness, completeness, and verification depth ??? see our [scoring methodology](/en/trust).
Decision Summary
Building an AI application that needs external data? MCP is the current de-facto standard and the safe long-term bet. Need a ready-made server? Start from our scored directory, or ask [our decision engine](/en/ask) ??? it answers only from recorded, sourced evidence.