Model Context Protocol (MCP)

The Model Context Protocol (MCP) is a standardized protocol that enables AI models to interact with external tools and resources in a structured way. It supports multiple transport mechanisms to provide flexibility across different environments.spring-doc.cn

The MCP Java SDK provides a Java implementation of the Model Context Protocol, enabling standardized interaction with AI models and tools through both synchronous and asynchronous communication patterns.spring-doc.cn

Spring AI MCP extends the MCP Java SDK with Spring Boot integration, providing both client and server starters. Bootstrap your AI applications with MCP support using Spring Initializer.spring-doc.cn

MCP Java SDK Architecture

This section provides an overview for the MCP Java SDK architecture. For the Spring AI MCP integration, refer to the Spring AI MCP Boot Starters documentation.

The Java MCP implementation follows a three-layer architecture:spring-doc.cn

Client/Server Layer: The McpClient handles client-side operations while the McpServer manages server-side protocol operations. Both utilize McpSession for communication management.spring-doc.cn
Session Layer (McpSession): Manages communication patterns and state through the DefaultMcpSession implementation.spring-doc.cn
Transport Layer (McpTransport): Handles JSON-RPC message serialization and deserialization with support for multiple transport implementations.spring-doc.cn

MCP Client
The MCP Client is a key component in the Model Context Protocol (MCP) architecture, responsible for establishing and managing connections with MCP servers. It implements the client-side of the protocol, handling:spring-doc.cn Protocol version negotiation to ensure compatibility with serversspring-doc.cn Capability negotiation to determine available featuresspring-doc.cn Message transport and JSON-RPC communicationspring-doc.cn Tool discovery and executionspring-doc.cn Resource access and managementspring-doc.cn Prompt system interactionsspring-doc.cn Optional features:spring-doc.cn Roots managementspring-doc.cn Sampling supportspring-doc.cn Synchronous and asynchronous operationsspring-doc.cn Transport options:spring-doc.cn Stdio-based transport for process-based communicationspring-doc.cn Java HttpClient-based SSE client transportspring-doc.cn WebFlux SSE client transport for reactive HTTP streamingspring-doc.cn

MCP Client

The MCP Client is a key component in the Model Context Protocol (MCP) architecture, responsible for establishing and managing connections with MCP servers. It implements the client-side of the protocol, handling:spring-doc.cn

Protocol version negotiation to ensure compatibility with serversspring-doc.cn
Capability negotiation to determine available featuresspring-doc.cn
Message transport and JSON-RPC communicationspring-doc.cn
Tool discovery and executionspring-doc.cn
Resource access and managementspring-doc.cn
Prompt system interactionsspring-doc.cn
Optional features:spring-doc.cn
- Roots managementspring-doc.cn
- Sampling supportspring-doc.cn
Synchronous and asynchronous operationsspring-doc.cn
Transport options:spring-doc.cn
- Stdio-based transport for process-based communicationspring-doc.cn
- Java HttpClient-based SSE client transportspring-doc.cn
- WebFlux SSE client transport for reactive HTTP streamingspring-doc.cn

MCP Server
The MCP Server is a foundational component in the Model Context Protocol (MCP) architecture that provides tools, resources, and capabilities to clients. It implements the server-side of the protocol, responsible for:spring-doc.cn Server-side protocol operations implementationspring-doc.cn Tool exposure and discoveryspring-doc.cn Resource management with URI-based accessspring-doc.cn Prompt template provision and handlingspring-doc.cn Capability negotiation with clientsspring-doc.cn Structured logging and notificationsspring-doc.cn Concurrent client connection managementspring-doc.cn Synchronous and Asynchronous API supportspring-doc.cn Transport implementations:spring-doc.cn Stdio-based transport for process-based communicationspring-doc.cn Servlet-based SSE server transportspring-doc.cn WebFlux SSE server transport for reactive HTTP streamingspring-doc.cn WebMVC SSE server transport for servlet-based HTTP streamingspring-doc.cn

MCP Server

The MCP Server is a foundational component in the Model Context Protocol (MCP) architecture that provides tools, resources, and capabilities to clients. It implements the server-side of the protocol, responsible for:spring-doc.cn

Server-side protocol operations implementationspring-doc.cn
- Tool exposure and discoveryspring-doc.cn
- Resource management with URI-based accessspring-doc.cn
- Prompt template provision and handlingspring-doc.cn
- Capability negotiation with clientsspring-doc.cn
- Structured logging and notificationsspring-doc.cn
Concurrent client connection managementspring-doc.cn
Synchronous and Asynchronous API supportspring-doc.cn
Transport implementations:spring-doc.cn
- Stdio-based transport for process-based communicationspring-doc.cn
- Servlet-based SSE server transportspring-doc.cn
- WebFlux SSE server transport for reactive HTTP streamingspring-doc.cn
- WebMVC SSE server transport for servlet-based HTTP streamingspring-doc.cn

For detailed implementation guidance, using the low-level MCP Client/Server APIs, refer to the MCP Java SDK documentation. For simplified setup using Spring Boot, use the MCP Boot Starters described below.spring-doc.cn

Spring AI MCP Integration

Spring AI provides MCP integration through the following Spring Boot starters:spring-doc.cn

Client Starters

spring-ai-mcp-client-spring-boot-starter - Core starter providing STDIO and HTTP-based SSE supportspring-doc.cn
spring-ai-mcp-client-webflux-spring-boot-starter - WebFlux-based SSE transport implementationspring-doc.cn

Server Starters

spring-ai-mcp-server-spring-boot-starter - Core server with STDIO transport supportspring-doc.cn
spring-ai-mcp-server-webmvc-spring-boot-starter - Spring MVC-based SSE transport implementationspring-doc.cn
spring-ai-mcp-server-webflux-spring-boot-starter - WebFlux-based SSE transport implementationspring-doc.cn

Model Context Protocol (MCP)

MCP Java SDK Architecture

Spring AI MCP Integration

Client Starters

Server Starters

Additional Resources