---
title: Introduction
description: 'Get started with the Model Context Protocol (MCP)'
---

The Model Context Protocol (MCP) is an open protocol that enables seamless integration between LLM applications and external data sources and tools. Whether you're building an AI-powered IDE, enhancing a chat interface, or creating custom AI workflows, MCP provides a standardized way to connect LLMs with the context they need.

## Get started with MCP 

Choose the path that best fits your needs:

<CardGroup cols={1}>
  <Card
    title="Quickstart"
    icon="bolt"
    href="/quickstart"
  >
    The fastest way to see MCP in action&mdash;connect example servers to Claude Desktop
  </Card>
  <Card
    title="Build your first server (Python)"
    icon="python"
    href="/docs/first-server/python"
  >
    Create a simple MCP server in Python to understand the basics
  </Card>
  <Card
    title="Build your first server (TypeScript)"
    icon="square-js"
    href="/docs/first-server/typescript"
  >
    Create a simple MCP server in TypeScript to understand the basics
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

## Development tools

Essential tools for building and debugging MCP servers:

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card
  title="Debugging Guide"
  icon="bug"
  href="/docs/tools/debugging">
    Learn how to effectively debug MCP servers and integrations
  </Card>
  <Card
    title="MCP Inspector"
    icon="magnifying-glass"
    href="/docs/tools/inspector"
  >
    Test and inspect your MCP servers with our interactive debugging tool
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

## Explore MCP

Dive deeper into MCP's core concepts and capabilities:

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card
    title="Core Architecture"
    icon="sitemap"
    href="/docs/concepts/architecture"
  >
    Understand how MCP connects clients, servers, and LLMs
  </Card>
  <Card
    title="Resources"
    icon="database"
    href="/docs/concepts/resources"
  >
    Expose data and content from your servers to LLMs
  </Card>
  <Card
    title="Prompts"
    icon="message"
    href="/docs/concepts/prompts"
  >
    Create reusable prompt templates and workflows
  </Card>
  <Card
    title="Tools"
    icon="wrench"
    href="/docs/concepts/tools"
  >
    Enable LLMs to perform actions through your server
  </Card>
  <Card
    title="Sampling"
    icon="robot"
    href="/docs/concepts/sampling"
  >
    Let your servers request completions from LLMs
  </Card>
  <Card
    title="Transports"
    icon="network-wired"
    href="/docs/concepts/transports"
  >
    Learn about MCP's communication mechanism
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

## Contributing

Want to contribute? Check out [@modelcontextprotocol](https://github.com/modelcontextprotocol) on GitHub to join our growing community of developers building with MCP.