What are MCP Servers? A Complete Guide

If you're working with AI coding tools like Claude Code or building AI agents, you've probably heard about MCP servers. But what exactly are they, and why should you care?

What is MCP?

MCP stands for Model Context Protocol. It's an open standard created by Anthropic that allows AI models to securely connect to external data sources and tools.

Think of MCP as a universal adapter that lets your AI assistant talk to:

• Your file system
• Databases
• APIs
• Web services
• Development tools

How Do MCP Servers Work?

An MCP server is a lightweight program that exposes specific capabilities to AI models. When you install an MCP server, you're giving your AI assistant new "skills".

For example:

• A GitHub MCP server lets Claude read your repositories and create pull requests
• A Database MCP server allows querying your SQL database
• A Web MCP server enables real-time web searches

Installing MCP Servers

For Claude Code

1. Browse AgentDepot's MCP directory
2. Find an MCP server you need
3. Copy the install command
4. Run it in your terminal

npx @anthropic-ai/mcp install github

Configuration

MCP servers are configured in your Claude Code settings:

{
  "mcp": {
    "github": {
      "token": "your-github-token"
    }
  }
}

Popular MCP Servers

1. File System MCP

Gives Claude secure access to read and write files in your project.

2. GitHub MCP

Enables repository management, PR creation, and issue tracking.

3. Database MCP

Query PostgreSQL, MySQL, or SQLite databases directly from Claude.

4. Browser MCP

Let Claude navigate web pages and extract data.

Why MCP Matters

Before MCP, every AI tool had to build custom integrations for every service. MCP creates a universal standard so:

• Developers build integrations once
• AI tools work with any MCP server
• Users get consistent experiences

Building Your Own MCP Server

Want to create a custom MCP server? Check out the MCP SDK documentation to get started.

Conclusion

MCP servers are the future of AI agent capabilities. By installing the right MCP servers, you can turn Claude Code into a powerhouse that connects to your entire development workflow.

Browse our MCP directory to find servers for your stack!