Glossary · Agents & tools

MCP (Model Context Protocol)

An open JSON-RPC protocol for a host to connect to servers that expose tools, resources, prompts, and extensions through defined request, result, discovery, and transport contracts. In revision 2026-07-28, every request carries its protocol version and client capabilities instead of relying on an initialization handshake or protocol session.

Common confusion

MCP standardizes discovery and exchange. It does not decide which tool is safe to call, grant permission, or forbid an application from using explicit state handles.

Related terms

Stateless MCP
Multi Round-Trip Request (MRTR)
Function Calling
Tool Contract
Least Privilege

Sources

MCP 2026-07-28 key changes

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