---
title: Overview
description: Introduction to the Model Context Protocol (MCP) Java SDK
---

# Java & Spring MCP

Java SDK and Spring Framework integration for the [Model Context Protocol](https://modelcontextprotocol.org/docs/concepts/architecture), enabling standardized interaction with AI models and tools through both synchronous and asynchronous communication.

![Spring AI MCP Client Architecture](/images/spring-ai-mcp-client-architecture.jpg)
![Spring AI MCP Server Architecture](/images/spring-ai-mcp-server-architecture.jpg)

## Core Components

### [MCP Java SDK](/docs/mcp)
Core implementation of the Model Context Protocol specification, providing:

- Synchronous and asynchronous [Client](/docs/mcp#mcp-client) and [Server](/docs/mcp#mcp-server) implementations
- Tool discovery and execution
- Resource management with URI templates
- Prompt handling and management
- Structured logging
- Request and Notification handling

### MCP Transports

#### Core Transports
- Stdio-based (`StdioClientTransport`, `StdioServerTransport`) for process-based communication
- Java HttpClient-based SSE client (`HttpClientSseClientTransport`) for HTTP SSE Client-side streaming
- Servlet-based SSE server (`HttpServletSseServerTransport`) for HTTP SSE Server streaming using traditional Servlet API

#### Optional SSE Transports
- [WebFlux SSE Transport](https://github.com/modelcontextprotocol/java-sdk/tree/main/mcp-transport/mcp-webflux-sse-transport) - Reactive HTTP streaming with Spring WebFlux (Client & Server)
- [WebMvc SSE Transport](https://github.com/modelcontextprotocol/java-sdk/tree/main/mcp-transport/mcp-webmvc-sse-transport) - Spring MVC based SSE transport (Server only). 
You can use the core `HttpClientSseClientTransport` transport as a SSE client.

## Getting Started

<Tabs>
  <Tab title="Maven">
```xml
<!-- Core MCP -->
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.modelcontextprotocol.sdk</groupId>
    <artifactId>mcp</artifactId>    
</dependency>

<!-- Optional: WebFlux SSE transport -->
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.modelcontextprotocol.sdk</groupId>
    <artifactId>mcp-webflux-sse-transport</artifactId>
</dependency>
```
  </Tab>
</Tabs>