What Is an MCP Server (And What Actually Happens Behind the Scenes)

So far, we’ve covered: why MCP exists what MCP is what tools are Now let’s answer a key question: When the model decides to use a tool… who actually runs it? 🧠 Simple Definition An MCP server is: The component that exposes tools and executes them. ⚠️ Important Clarification An MCP server is not just your backend . It is: a layer on top of your backend designed specifically for LLM interaction 🧩 What the MCP Server Does It has three main responsibilities: 1. Expose Tools It tells the system: wh