Anthropic's Model Context Protocol Lets Claude Code Connect to Any External Tool

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Anthropic has developed the Model Context Protocol (MCP), an open standard that enables AI models like Claude Code to interact with external tools, databases, APIs, and services through a single unified protocol. Before MCP, each AI integration required custom-built solutions, but the protocol standardizes connectivity much like USB standardizes hardware connections. MCP follows a client-server architecture where lightweight server programs expose tools, resources, and prompt templates to compatible AI clients. Popular MCP servers already exist for GitHub, PostgreSQL, web browsers, Figma, and Slack, enabling a wide range of automated workflows. Developers can also build custom MCP servers using Anthropic's TypeScript SDK and register them directly within Claude Code's configuration.

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