MCP Resources
MCP Resources expose read-only data to AI assistants. They let AI models query databases, read files, fetch configurations, or access any data from your system — without performing mutations or side effects.
Explanation
Resources are the data layer of MCP. While Tools perform actions, Resources provide context. Each resource has a URI pattern, a description, and a return type. AI assistants use resources when they need information to answer questions, summarize data, or make decisions before calling a tool. For example, a project management MCP server might expose resources like 'project://issues/open' for current open issues, or 'project://sprints/current' for the active sprint. Resources can be static (always available) or dynamic (templated URIs that accept parameters). They're especially valuable for AI-powered search, summarization, and analysis workflows where the AI needs to understand your data before taking action.
Related Terms
Model Context Protocol (MCP)
Model Context Protocol (MCP) is an open standard that defines how AI assistants connect to external tools, data sources, and services. It provides a structured way for AI models to discover, understand, and use capabilities from any MCP-compatible server.
MCP Tools
MCP Tools are the action primitive in the Model Context Protocol. They let AI assistants perform operations — creating records, triggering deployments, sending messages, or any other action your service supports — by calling structured functions on your MCP server.
MCP Prompts
MCP Prompts are guided workflows that an MCP server exposes to AI assistants. They define multi-step processes — like onboarding a new user, debugging an issue, or generating a report — that combine your tool's capabilities with structured AI guidance.
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