---
title: "What is MCP (Model Context Protocol)? – Invenitor"
description: "MCP is an open standard that connects AI applications to tools and data. Here is what it means for people search and how an agent uses it."
url: https://invenitor.com/glossary/mcp
agents: https://invenitor.com/llms.txt
mcp: https://api.invenitor.com/mcp
---

[Home](https://invenitor.com/)/[Glossary](https://invenitor.com/glossary)/MCP (Model Context Protocol)

Glossary

# What is MCP (Model Context Protocol)?

MCP, or Model Context Protocol, is an open-source standard for connecting AI applications such as Claude or ChatGPT to external tools and data.

By Invenitor team. Updated 2026-11-01.

## What does MCP do, in plain words?

The MCP project compares it to a USB-C port for AI applications: one standard way to plug in many things ([MCP introduction](https://modelcontextprotocol.io/docs/getting-started/intro)). Once a tool offers an MCP server, any compatible AI client can call it.

## How does this apply to people search?

An agent connected to a people search can run a search from your sentence, show you the people, and then get a contact you approve. Invenitor offers remote MCP on every account. See the [setup guide](https://invenitor.com/guides/connect-people-search-to-an-ai-agent).

## Is MCP the same as an API?

No. A REST API is what your own code calls. MCP is how an AI client finds and calls tools without you writing that code. Many products offer both.

## Guides on this

- [How to connect people search to an AI agent with MCP](https://invenitor.com/guides/connect-people-search-to-an-ai-agent)
- [How to use a people search API: a developer's guide](https://invenitor.com/guides/people-search-api-for-developers)

## Related terms

- [REST API](https://invenitor.com/glossary/rest-api)
- [People search API](https://invenitor.com/glossary/people-search-api)

Try one real search for free

New accounts get 25 free credits, with no card. That covers one search and five contacts.

[](https://invenitor.com/login?from=https%3A%2F%2Fpeople.invenitor.com%2Fsearch&x=w7&q=c5&z=s1)[](https://invenitor.com/pricing?x=w7&q=c5&z=s2)