---
title: "What Is the Model Context Protocol (MCP)? Definition | ONEGTMLAB"
description: "The Model Context Protocol (MCP) is an open standard for connecting AI applications to external tools and data. Learn how MCP servers and clients work."
canonical: https://www.onegtmlab.dev/glossary/model-context-protocol
---

# What Is the Model Context Protocol (MCP)? Definition | ONEGTMLAB

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GTM Glossary

# Model Context Protocol (MCP)

The Model Context Protocol (MCP) is an open-source standard that defines how AI applications connect to external systems such as data sources, tools and workflows through a common interface.

Also called: MCP, MCP server

## Why it matters

Before a shared standard, every AI application needed its own custom integration for each tool. MCP separates the two sides: an MCP server wraps a system such as a CRM, database or search service, and any AI application with an MCP client can use it. Servers expose capabilities such as tools the model can call, resources it can read, and reusable prompts.

For go-to-market teams, MCP means an AI assistant can read CRM records, query enrichment data or send a Slack message from one conversation, as long as a server exists for each system. MCP is a protocol, not a product: it does not decide what the model should do, and access control still depends on the credentials and permissions each server is given.

## Example

A RevOps manager connects an AI assistant to two MCP servers, one for the company CRM and one for a data provider. She asks it to list open deals with no activity in 30 days and to look up the current title of each main contact. The assistant calls the CRM server, then the data server, and returns one table.

## Related terms

-   [AI Agent](/glossary/ai-agent)
-   [Context Engineering](/glossary/context-engineering)
-   [Agentic Workflow](/glossary/agentic-workflow)
-   [GTM Engineering](/glossary/gtm-engineering)
-   [llms.txt](/glossary/llms-txt)

## Related service

[GTM Engineering Signal-led outbound systems that enrich, score, sequence and sync to your CRM.](/ai-gtm-engineering)

## Related playbooks

-   [Claude Code for Sales Run list builds, qualification, outreach and CRM sync from one terminal, with every judgment written down.](/growth-playbooks/claude-code-for-sales)
-   [Claude Code for Marketing Content, SEO, page research, link building and lead magnets, run as repeatable skills instead of one-off prompts.](/growth-playbooks/claude-code-for-marketing)

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