Explain it to me like I'm new
MCP is a shared standard for connecting AI assistants to outside tools and data, so each new integration is not invented from scratch.
Think of it like
A power socket standard. Any appliance with the right plug works, without rewiring the house.
What actually happens
An MCP server declares the tools it offers, enforces its own authentication, and returns structured results the assistant can act on.
assistant ⇄ MCP server → declares tools → auth → structured result
Where I encountered it
While trying to connect an assistant to systems outside the chat window.
Next words to meet
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