The Model Context Protocol (MCP) is a universal protocol developed by Anthropic to connect large language models with external data sources, tools, infrastructure, and APIs as context for user workflows. It enables seamless integration of AI applications across different platforms and systems, reducing the need for individual, one-to-one integrations. MCP has gained significant traction since its launch in November 2024, with tens of thousands of server implementations and adoption by major players like Neo4j, OpenAI, Google Cloud Platform, and Microsoft. The protocol offers a range of features, including tools, resources, prompts, sampling, pings, and notifications, allowing users to interact with AI agents and other systems in a more efficient and productive way. Despite some challenges, MCP is expected to become the de-facto standard for next-gen agent and tool interactions, driving efficiencies for users and vendors alike.