MCP is an open protocol for how applications hand context to large language models (LLMs). Its own documentation compares it to a USB-C port for AI applications: one connector instead of a different cable for every device.
What is MCP?
Before MCP, every AI application needed its own integration for every data source. With MCP, a data source such as your store runs one server, and any MCP client can use it.
Key Benefits
- Many existing servers and clients you can combine
- One way to build your own integration instead of one per application
- An open specification anyone can implement
- You can switch AI clients and keep the same data sources
How It Works
An MCP server describes what it offers in three kinds of items:
- Tools the model can call, such as a product search
- Resources it can read, such as a guide or a document
- Prompts, ready-made instructions a user can pick
The client connects to the server, asks for the list, and the model calls what a question needs. MCP for WooCommerce is such a server for your store.
Implementation Options
- Use existing MCP servers, like this plugin
- Build your own server to expose your data or tools
- Build a client, if you are writing an AI application
For Developers
There are official SDKs for several languages. They handle the protocol itself, so your code only deals with your tools and data.
Learn More
The specification, tutorials and SDKs are at modelcontextprotocol.io.