MCP
The Model Context Protocol is an open standard that lets AI clients connect to external tools and data sources through a common interface.
What it means
The Model Context Protocol, usually shortened to MCP, defines how an AI client asks a tool server what it can do and then calls those tools. A client might list search, fetch and extract tools from one server, then decide during a chat which to call. The protocol covers the messages, the tool descriptions and the results, so one server can work with many clients.
For search, MCP means you configure a web search capability once and reuse it across Claude, Cursor and other clients that support the standard. Support differs by product and plan, so check each client's settings page before you assume a server will connect. When a vendor publishes a server, the same tool list can appear in several clients, which saves setup time for a team that switches tools.
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Cite this entry
https://searchmcpserver.com/glossary/mcp/