---
slug: "model-context-protocol"
name: "Model Context Protocol"
effect: "Defines an open standard for connecting AI applications to tools, data sources and workflows"
category: "mcp-server"
url: "https://modelcontextprotocol.io"
github: "modelcontextprotocol/modelcontextprotocol"
pricing: "open-source"
license: "Apache-2.0 for new code and spec (transitioning from MIT); non-spec docs CC-BY-4.0"
tags: ["protocol", "spec", "sdk", "json-rpc", "typescript", "python"]
platforms: []
install_kind: "npm"
date_added: "2026-10-14"
drop_score: 61
stars: 9454
pushed_at: "2026-10-15T00:54:43Z"
signals_status: "ok"
signals_fetched_at: "2026-10-15T01:19:02.219Z"
page: "https://agenttooldrop.com/tools/model-context-protocol"
---

# Model Context Protocol

Defines an open standard for connecting AI applications to tools, data sources and workflows

Category: MCP servers. Pricing: Open source. License: Apache-2.0 for new code and spec (transitioning from MIT); non-spec docs CC-BY-4.0.

## Why you would want it

MCP is the protocol behind every server in this category: a server exposes tools, resources and prompts once, and any MCP client, such as Claude, ChatGPT, VS Code or Cursor, can discover and call them. Messages are JSON-RPC 2.0 over stdio for local servers or Streamable HTTP for remote ones, with OAuth recommended for remote auth. Official SDKs cover TypeScript, Python, C#, Go, Rust, Ruby, Java, Swift, PHP and Kotlin, so you can build a server or client in the language you already use.

## Best for

- Exposing your own API or data to AI clients
- Building an agent host that connects to many servers
- Standardizing tool integrations across clients

## Use it when

You want agents to reach an internal system or service, or you are building a client that should plug into existing MCP servers.

## Skip it if

You only want to use existing servers; the spec and SDKs are for building servers and clients, so pick a server entry instead.

## Install

Install the TypeScript server SDK:

```sh
npm install @modelcontextprotocol/server zod
```

Source: https://modelcontextprotocol.io/docs/develop/build-server

## Live signals

Fetched 2026-10-15T01:19:02.219Z (status: ok).

- Repository: modelcontextprotocol/modelcontextprotocol
- Stars: 9,454
- Forks: 1,868
- Open issues and PRs: 114
- License (GitHub): NOASSERTION
- Last push: 2026-10-15
- Latest release: 2026-07-28 (2026-07-28)

## Links

- Website: https://modelcontextprotocol.io
- GitHub: https://github.com/modelcontextprotocol/modelcontextprotocol
- Install instructions verified at: https://modelcontextprotocol.io/docs/develop/build-server
- Source for this entry: https://modelcontextprotocol.io/docs/getting-started/intro
- AgentToolDrop page: https://agenttooldrop.com/tools/model-context-protocol
- Full catalog (JSON): https://agenttooldrop.com/tools.json