Glossary entry

What Is Model Context Protocol (MCP)?

An open standard from Anthropic that lets AI agents use the tools and data of an application.

Updated: June 2026 SEOX GmbH, Zurich 25+ years of SEO experience
Reviewed by SEOX expertsWritten and reviewed by our team, which has more than 25 years of experience in SEO and digital marketing.

What is the Model Context Protocol (MCP)?

The Model Context Protocol (MCP) is an open standard from Anthropic that lets AI agents and language models use the tools and data of an application. Instead of connecting functions to each application one by one, MCP defines a single shared interface, much like a common plug between agents and services.

MCP has become the most widely used standard for connecting AI agents to external tools and is supported by many applications and agent frameworks.

Example: a hotel runs an MCP server that offers a room search and a booking function. A user asks an AI agent to find a free double room for a weekend. The agent calls the hotel's search tool through MCP and can complete the booking without filling in the website's forms.

How does MCP work?

MCP follows a client-server model. An application provides an MCP server that describes its capabilities; an agent acts as the MCP client and uses those capabilities. An MCP server can offer:

  • Tools – executable functions that an agent can call (e.g. a search or a booking).
  • Resources – structured data and content that an agent is allowed to read.
  • Prompts – predefined templates that make it easier for the agent to use the service correctly.

This way an agent can use an application in a targeted and controlled way, without imitating or scraping its interface.

MCP, A2A and the agentic web

MCP and A2A (Agent2Agent) complement each other: MCP governs how an agent accesses the tools and data of an application, while A2A governs communication between agents. Together they form the technical foundation of the agentic web.

For companies, their own MCP server is a central building block of agent readiness (AAO): it makes services and data directly usable for agents as well as for human visitors.

MCP in practice at SEOX

At SEOX, we use MCP servers as part of our agent readiness work, so that AI agents can access a company's relevant information and functions cleanly and in a controlled way. Our article on optimizing your website for AI agents covers the wider picture.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

What is the Model Context Protocol (MCP)?

MCP is an open standard from Anthropic that lets AI agents and language models use the tools and data of an application through a single shared interface.

Why does the Model Context Protocol (MCP) matter for SEO?

An MCP server is a central building block of agent readiness. It makes a company's services and data directly usable for AI agents as well as for human visitors.

What is an example of the Model Context Protocol (MCP)?

A hotel offers an MCP server with a room search and a booking tool. An AI agent can call these tools to find and book a room without using the website's forms.

How does MCP differ from A2A?

MCP governs how an agent accesses the tools and data of an application. A2A governs communication between agents.