# What is Model Context Protocol? · Leadraft

URL: https://leadraft.co/glossary/model-context-protocol
Summary: The Model Context Protocol (MCP) is an open standard that lets AI assistants like Claude and ChatGPT connect to external tools and data sources.

Glossary · Technical · Last updated October 31, 2026

# Model Context Protocol

The Model Context Protocol (MCP) is an open standard that lets AI assistants like Claude and ChatGPT connect to external tools and data sources.

**Also called:** MCP, MCP server.

MCP was introduced by Anthropic in November 2024 as an open protocol. An application exposes an MCP server with a set of tools (functions with descriptions and typed inputs) and resources. An AI client connects to it, reads what the tools do, and calls them when a user's request needs them.

Before MCP, each assistant needed its own plugin format. With MCP, one server works with any client that supports the protocol, which now includes many AI assistants, coding tools and agent frameworks.

For lead generation, MCP means you can ask an assistant for leads in plain language ("find plumbers in Austin with a verified email") and it calls the lead tool directly, starts a search, checks progress, and reads results back into the conversation or into a next step such as drafting emails.

Treat MCP access like API access. A connected assistant can spend credits and read data on your behalf, so use scoped API keys and review what it does.

## Example

In Claude, a user asks for HVAC contractors in Phoenix. The assistant calls `start_search`, polls `search_status`, then calls `find_leads` and summarizes the businesses with verified emails.

## In Leadraft

Leadraft runs an MCP server with six tools: `find_leads`, `get_lead`, `start_search`, `search_status`, `list_searches` and `credits`. See the [MCP docs](https://leadraft.co/docs/mcp).

## Sources

1.  1.[Model Context Protocol, official site](https://modelcontextprotocol.io)
2.  2.[Model Context Protocol, specification](https://modelcontextprotocol.io/specification)

## Related terms

-   [WebhookA webhook is an HTTP request one app sends to a URL you choose when something happens, so other systems can react without polling.](https://leadraft.co/glossary/webhook)
-   [Lead listA lead list is a set of businesses or people you plan to contact, with the fields needed to qualify them and reach them, such as email and phone.](https://leadraft.co/glossary/lead-list)
-   [Local lead generationLocal lead generation is finding and contacting businesses in a specific place, such as every dentist in a county, usually starting from Google Maps.](https://leadraft.co/glossary/local-lead-generation)

## Further reading

-   [Leadraft MCP server](https://leadraft.co/mcp)
-   [Find leads from Claude or ChatGPT with MCP](https://leadraft.co/blog/ai-agent-lead-generation-mcp)
-   [REST API](https://leadraft.co/docs/api)

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Last built: 2026-11-09