Glossary · Phase 1 · Building with LLMs

MCP host

Also written: MCP hosts

The AI app, such as a chat app or code editor, that connects to MCP servers and lets the model use their tools.

Learn it properly

Model Context Protocol · A standard way to plug tools and data into any AI app. About 25 minutes.

JSON-RPC: A simple way for one program to ask another to run a named command, with the request and reply written as JSON. MCP uses it.
MCP: Model Context Protocol: a standard way to plug tools and data sources into AI apps.
MCP server: A small program that offers tools or data to AI apps through MCP, such as one that reads your calendar.