Host

In the MCP architecture, the Host is the operating environment or application where the MCP Client lives. It provides the necessary infrastructure for the client to interact with both the user and the servers.

Examples of Hosts

• IDEs: Cursor, VS Code (via extensions).
• Chat Interfaces: Claude.ai, ChatGPT (via connectors).
• Custom Apps: A developer's local command-line tool.

The host often manages the user interface, persistent history, and the lifecycle of the AI model itself.

Questions & Answers

What is a "Host" in the Model Context Protocol?

In MCP, the Host is the overall operating environment or application (like Claude Desktop or Cursor) where the MCP Client lives. It provides the infrastructure for the client to interact with both the server and the user.

What are some common examples of MCP Hosts?

Typical hosts include Integrated Development Environments (IDEs) like Cursor and VS Code, and chat interfaces like Claude.ai.

What are the main responsibilities of a Host application?

The host manages the user interface, maintains a persistent conversation history, and typically handles the lifecycle and execution of the AI model that uses the MCP client.