Model Context Protocol is an open standard for exposing tools to an AI. Connecting an MCP server hands your agents every tool that server publishes at once, instead of you defining each one by hand.
MCP or custom tools? #
| Field | What it does |
|---|---|
| Use custom tools | When you are wiring up one or two of your own endpoints. Direct, and you control exactly what is exposed. See Custom tools. |
| Use MCP | When something you already run — or a third party — publishes an MCP server. You get its whole toolset and it stays current as that server changes. |
Connecting a server #
-
Add the server
Give its address and whatever credentials it requires. -
Refresh
This calls the server and reads back the tools it publishes. Refresh is rate-limited, because it makes an outbound request from a browser action. -
Review what it exposes
Read the tool list before attaching it to anything. You are adopting all of it. -
Attach it to an agent
The tools then become available to that agent exactly like custom ones.