All patterns

Last updated: 2026-05-11

MCP Tool Gateway

A protocol gateway that exposes a narrow, governed tool surface to multiple agent clients.

When to use it

  • Several clients need the same capability.
  • Tool ownership is separate from agent application ownership.
  • Auth, audit, and rate limits belong at the tool boundary.

Avoid when

  • One app owns the whole stack.
  • The tool is unsafe without manual approval.

Implementation notes

  • Start with read-only tools.
  • Keep schemas narrow and typed.
  • Record calls with actor, tenant, and tool arguments.