Introduction to Model Context Protocol (MCP)

content/manuals/ai/gordon/mcp/_index.md

8004386c89f442c24a5a7530a605ff4df0211312ef5a0c3a000000030000047a

---
title: MCP
description: Learn how to use MCP servers with Gordon
keywords: ai, mcp, gordon, docker desktop, docker, llm, 
grid:
- title: Built-in tools
  description: Use the built-in tools.
  icon: construction
  link: /ai/gordon/mcp/built-in-tools
- title: MCP configuration
  description: Configure MCP tools on a per-project basis.
  icon: manufacturing
  link: /ai/gordon/mcp/yaml
aliases:
 - /desktop/features/gordon/mcp/
---

## What is MCP?

[Model Context Protocol](https://modelcontextprotocol.io/introduction) (MCP) is
an open protocol that standardizes how applications provide context and extra
functionality to large language models. MCP functions as a client-server
protocol, where the client, for example an application like Gordon, sends
requests, and the server processes those requests to deliver the necessary
context to the AI. This context may be gathered by the MCP server by executing
some code to perform an action and getting the result of the action, calling
external APIs, etc.

Gordon, along with other MCP clients like Claude Desktop or Cursor, can interact
with MCP servers running as containers.

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Title: Introduction to Model Context Protocol (MCP)

Summary

This section introduces the Model Context Protocol (MCP), an open standard for providing context and functionality to large language models. MCP operates as a client-server protocol, where clients like Gordon interact with MCP servers to gather context through actions like code execution or API calls. Gordon, along with other clients, can connect to MCP servers running as containers.