Model Context Protocol (MCP) is an open standard developed by Anthropic that enables large language models (LLMs) to securely interact with external tools, data sources, and applications. It provides a structured protocol for defining capabilities—such as file access, APIs, or databases—that an AI assistant can call during a conversation. By using MCP, developers can extend the functionality of AI systems in a modular and consistent way, while maintaining strong security boundaries and user control over what resources the model can access. Its design emphasizes interoperability, allowing the same tools and extensions to work across different AI platforms. With growing adoption in the AI ecosystem, MCP is emerging as a foundation for building safer, more powerful, and customizable AI-assisted workflows.