Glossary · API basics
What is an MCP server?
Short answer
An MCP server is a program that gives AI assistants access to tools and data through the Model Context Protocol, an open standard. Once connected, an assistant such as Claude or Cursor can call those tools itself, for example to look up a TikTok profile or search Reddit.
Assistant
Claude, Cursor, ChatGPT or another app that speaks MCP.
MCP server
Lists its tools, each with a description and input schema.
Tool call
The model sends arguments, for example to look up a TikTok profile.
Result
The server returns the data and the model carries on.
01
The Model Context Protocol
Anthropic introduced MCP as an open standard in November 2024. It defines one way for an AI application to discover what a server offers and call it, so a tool built once works in every assistant that speaks the protocol.
An MCP server can offer three kinds of things:
- 01
Tools
Actions the model can call, such as
search_postsorget_profile. - 02
Resources
Data the application can read into context, such as files or documents.
- 03
Prompts
Reusable templates a user can pick.
02
How a call flows
- 01
You connect an MCP server to your assistant, once.
- 02
The assistant asks the server which tools it has, with a description and input schema for each.
- 03
While answering you, the model decides a tool would help and sends a call with arguments.
- 04
The server runs it, for example an API request, and returns the result.
- 05
The model reads the result and continues its answer.
03
Local vs remote servers
npx or uvx command and a key in config.Paste a URL and sign in, often with OAuth.Early remote servers used Server-Sent Events. The current spec uses Streamable HTTP for remote connections.
04
Why it matters for data APIs
Without MCP, giving an agent live data means writing tool definitions, handling auth and parsing responses for each framework. With an MCP server, the provider has done that once, and the agent can list the available operations, read their docs and call them in the same conversation.
In Monocrawl
Monocrawl’s MCP server
Give your agent public social, search and web data.
Monocrawl runs a hosted MCP server at https://www.monocrawl.com/mcp. Your agent can list endpoints, read their docs, call them, check your balance and manage Monitors, all on the same key and credits as the REST API.
For Claude Code, including local sessions in the Claude desktop app’s Code tab, Quick install needs Node.js 18.17 or later. You do not need the claude terminal command. Approve access in your browser, then start a new Code session and ask for your balance.
npx -y monocrawl-cli@latest init --agent claudePrefer a local process? Run npx --yes monocrawl-mcp@latest with your API key. Large results are stored for 24 hours so the agent can read them in chunks without paying for the call again.
Questions
Common questions
Is MCP only for Claude?
No. It is an open protocol, and many assistants and developer tools support it, including ChatGPT, Cursor, VS Code and Gemini tools.
Is an MCP server the same as an API?
An MCP server usually wraps an API. The API is for your code; the MCP server presents the same abilities in a form an AI model can discover and call.
Is it safe to connect an MCP server?
Treat it like any integration: connect servers from providers you trust, give them only the keys they need, and review what tools can change before letting an agent run them.
Sources
Try it on real data
One key for public data.
Social, search and web.
Start with 150 free credits. No card required.