Glossary · Technical
Model Context Protocol (MCP)
An open standard, introduced by Anthropic, for connecting AI models to external tools, data sources and applications in a consistent, interoperable way.
What it is
Before MCP, connecting a model to an external system — a database, a search API, a business tool — typically required a custom, one-off integration. MCP defines a common protocol so any compliant model or agent can connect to any compliant tool or data source without bespoke glue code.
Why it matters for AI visibility
As more AI platforms and autonomous agents adopt MCP to reach live data sources, the systems a brand exposes through MCP-compatible interfaces — product catalogs, documentation, support content — could become another channel through which AI agents access and reference information about it. This is still an early, fast-moving area, and its practical impact on visibility varies a lot by platform.
See more terms in the full glossary, or read the AI Visibility 101 guide for the full picture.