# What is MCP Server? Definition & Technical Mechanics

> **Source:** [SPIDITS AI AI Glossary](https://spidits.com/ai-glossary)  
> **Category:** Agentic Systems  
> **Canonical Citation:** [https://spidits.com/ai-glossary/mcp-server](https://spidits.com/ai-glossary/mcp-server)

## Definition
A Model Context Protocol Server (MCP Server) is a lightweight utility service that exposes databases, file systems, specific APIs, or local command runtimes to MCP clients using a standardized, secure JSON protocol.

## Architectural Mechanics & Deep Dive
An MCP server is a lightweight software service that exposes specific resources, prompts, and tools (such as database queries, file system tools, or web search APIs) via the Model Context Protocol. By running locally or in a sandbox, the MCP server performs actual operations, allowing MCP clients to retrieve contextual data without exposing security access.

## Industry Applications & Real-World Use Cases
Database read tools, web search scrapers, and local terminal execution wrappers.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### Who runs an MCP server?
It can run locally on a developer's computer or be hosted remotely in a cloud sandbox environment.

### Can MCP servers expose anything other than tools?
Yes, they can expose resources (like files or database schemas) and prompt templates.

## Related Terminology
- [mcp](https://spidits.com/ai-glossary/mcp)
- [mcp-client](https://spidits.com/ai-glossary/mcp-client)
- [function-calling](https://spidits.com/ai-glossary/function-calling)

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*From the SPIDITS AI Knowledge Base (336+ terms indexed). Explore full technical definitions: [https://spidits.com/ai-glossary](https://spidits.com/ai-glossary)*