MCP & Connectors
What transport protocols are supported by MCP?
QUICK ANSWER
MCP supports two standard transport protocols: stdio (Standard Input/Output) for local sub-processes, and Server-Sent Events (SSE) for remote clients and web-based server setups using HTTP endpoints.
Transport Mode Comparison
The Model Context Protocol establishes JSON-RPC channels over two distinct transports:
| Transport Mode | Best For | Operational Model |
|---|---|---|
| Stdio | Local system integrations and desktop AI applications. | Subprocess spawned by the client. Read/write to stdout/stdin. |
| Server-Sent Events (SSE) | Web-based apps, microservices, and remote API access. | GET request holds open an SSE stream. Client POSTs messages to server. |
Verified against: MCP Protocol Spec v1.0.4