Model Context Protocol (MCP) – The New Standard at the Interface Between AI and Real Data Sources. In an era where AI models are becoming increasingly powerful, one crucial component often remains missing: structured access to current, external information. This is precisely where the Model Context Protocol comes into play. This e-book provides a well-founded and comprehensible introduction to MCP – the open standard from Anthropic, designed to connect AI systems securely, flexibly, and in a standardized manner with context data. It explains the fundamental concepts, applications, and architecture of the protocol. Readers will learn why MCP could play such a central role in the AI landscape, how it is technically structured, and what problems it solves compared to previous approaches. The book is aimed at everyone looking for a compact yet in-depth overview of the topic – whether developers, AI enthusiasts, or technically interested decision-makers.