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Model Context Protocol (MCP) lets you connect external tools and data sources to Claude Code. Once connected, Claude can invoke MCP tools just like built-in tools.

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What MCP servers provide

MCP servers expose:
  • Tools — Actions Claude can invoke (e.g., query a database, call an API)
  • Resources — Data Claude can read (e.g., files, database rows, documents)
  • Prompts — Reusable prompt templates

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Managing MCP servers

Use the /mcp command to manage server connections: 
> /mcp
This opens the MCP management UI where you can add, remove, and inspect connected servers.

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Adding a server

1

Run /mcp

> /mcp
2

Select Add server

Choose the server type: stdio (local process) or HTTP (remote server).
3

Configure the server

For stdio servers, provide the command to launch the server process. For HTTP servers, provide the endpoint URL.
4

Approve the connection

Claude Code will prompt for approval before connecting to a new server.

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Server types

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stdio servers

Local processes that communicate over stdin/stdout. Most MCP servers are stdio-based: 
{
  "command": "npx",
  "args": ["-y", "@modelcontextprotocol/server-filesystem", "/path/to/directory"]
}

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HTTP servers

Remote servers accessible over HTTP/HTTPS. Claude Code connects to the MCP endpoint URL.

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Using MCP tools

Once a server is connected, its tools appear alongside Claude Code’s built-in tools. Claude selects the right tool automatically based on context: 
> Query the sales database for Q4 revenue by region
> Search our internal documentation for the deployment process
> Create a new Jira ticket for the login bug

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Official MCP servers

Claude Code can connect to servers from the official MCP registry. Run /mcp to browse available official servers. Popular official servers include integrations for:
  • Filesystem access
  • GitHub
  • Databases (PostgreSQL, SQLite)
  • Slack
  • Browser automation

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MCP resources

Beyond tools, MCP servers can expose resources that Claude reads directly: 
> Read the latest schema from the database MCP server
> Show me the resources available from the docs server
Use ListMcpResourcesTool and ReadMcpResourceTool — Claude invokes these automatically when accessing MCP resources.
MCP server connections are scoped to your user account, not the project. Servers you add are available across all your Claude Code sessions.

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Troubleshooting

Run /doctor to check MCP server connectivity. If a server shows as disconnected, verify the server process is running and the configuration is correct. See MCP Protocol for details on building your own MCP server.

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