Last updated: 2026-05-11
What Is an MCP Server?
An MCP server exposes tools and context to agents through a common protocol boundary.
Definition
It is a server that describes capabilities to MCP clients, receives tool calls, and returns structured results from local or remote systems.
Why it matters
Agents become safer when tool access is explicit, typed, authorized, and reusable across clients.
Problems it solves
- Reusable tool integrations
- Controlled local or SaaS access
- Clear separation between agent clients and capability providers
Common misconceptions
- MCP is not a replacement for authorization.
- A broad MCP server can be riskier than narrow function calls.
- Tool descriptions are part of the security boundary.
Minimal example
Expose one read-only repository search tool, require auth, log every call, then connect it to one coding agent.
Next step: Design MCP tools as small product APIs, not as wrappers around every internal endpoint.