{
  "title": "MCP tools",
  "description": "Invoke tools exposed by a Model Context Protocol server, with current-track evidence for selected harnesses.",
  "slug": "mcp-tools",
  "locale": "en",
  "seoTitle": "MCP tools compatibility — Can My Agent Use",
  "socialTitle": "Can my agent use MCP tools?",
  "socialDescription": "Current-track MCP tool support by agent harness, with dated public evidence.",
  "llmSummary": "MCP tools let a harness invoke operations exposed by a Model Context Protocol server. Selected current-track cells are sourced; all others remain unknown.",
  "audience": "Engineers comparing chat, desktop, and CLI agent harnesses.",
  "contentKind": "feature",
  "status": "published",
  "tags": [
    "interfaces",
    "mcp"
  ],
  "updated": "2026-08-28T00:00:00.000Z",
  "published": "2026-08-28T00:00:00.000Z",
  "category": "interfaces",
  "summary": "Invoke operations exposed by a Model Context Protocol server.",
  "specLabel": "MCP 2026-07-28",
  "specification": {
    "id": "mcp",
    "revision": "2026-07-28",
    "maturity": "published",
    "role": "host or client invoking server tools",
    "authority": "MCP project / AAIF ecosystem",
    "canonicalUrl": "https://modelcontextprotocol.io/specification/2026-07-28/server/tools"
  },
  "aliases": [
    "MCP tool calling",
    "tools/list",
    "tools/call"
  ],
  "capabilityKind": "atomic",
  "parent": "mcp",
  "related": [
    "mcp-resources",
    "mcp-prompts",
    "mcp-apps"
  ],
  "relations": [],
  "highlight": true,
  "notes": [
    {
      "id": 1,
      "text": "Evidence checked 2026-08-28: ChatGPT developer mode can scan and invoke tools from custom remote MCP apps on ChatGPT web, but full MCP is a beta rollout limited by plan and workspace controls."
    },
    {
      "id": 2,
      "text": "Evidence checked 2026-08-28: Claude web supports tools from custom remote MCP connectors on paid plans, and Anthropic labels the feature beta."
    },
    {
      "id": 3,
      "text": "Evidence checked 2026-08-28: Claude Desktop supports local MCP servers through desktop extensions and remote MCP connectors, with beta and administrator controls documented."
    },
    {
      "id": 4,
      "text": "Evidence checked 2026-08-28: the Claude Code CLI reference exposes `claude mcp` for configuring MCP servers and documents MCP tools in its permission surface."
    },
    {
      "id": 5,
      "text": "Evidence checked 2026-08-28: Cursor documents local and remote MCP transports and automatic use of discovered MCP tools by Agent."
    },
    {
      "id": 6,
      "text": "Evidence checked 2026-08-28: OpenAI documents MCP as a Codex CLI tool for connecting the local agent to external systems."
    },
    {
      "id": 7,
      "text": "Evidence checked 2026-08-28: Gemini CLI documents configured MCP server discovery and invocation of the tools those servers expose."
    },
    {
      "id": 8,
      "text": "Evidence checked 2026-08-28: VS Code documents MCP tools as a supported agent tool type and supports local or remote MCP servers in Copilot agent mode."
    },
    {
      "id": 9,
      "text": "Evidence checked 2026-08-28: OpenWork Desktop documents workspace or global custom MCP servers, including an OAuth setup path, for use in agent sessions."
    },
    {
      "id": 10,
      "text": "Evidence checked 2026-08-28: xAI documents that Grok Bot connects to tools through plugins and MCP servers, while hosted MCP tool calls are run on the Bot computer's behalf; team MCP policy can disable servers or member-added configurations."
    },
    {
      "id": 11,
      "text": "Evidence checked 2026-08-28: xAI documents that Grok Web discovers tools exposed by a custom remote MCP connector and makes them available in conversations."
    },
    {
      "id": 12,
      "text": "Evidence checked 2026-08-28: Cline documents discovering tools from configured MCP servers and testing or invoking those tools from the desktop extension."
    },
    {
      "id": 13,
      "text": "Evidence checked 2026-08-28: Continue documents MCP servers as custom Agent-mode tools, and its pinned desktop client lists and calls server tools."
    },
    {
      "id": 14,
      "text": "Evidence checked 2026-08-28: Zed explicitly lists MCP Tools as supported and documents MCP tools in the Agent Panel and per-tool permission surface."
    }
  ],
  "issues": [],
  "resources": [
    {
      "id": "openai-chatgpt-mcp",
      "title": "OpenAI — Developer mode and MCP apps in ChatGPT",
      "href": "https://help.openai.com/en/articles/12584461-developer-mode-and-full-mcp-connectors-in-chatgpt",
      "kind": "docs",
      "publisher": "OpenAI",
      "evidenceType": "documented",
      "reviewedAt": "2026-08-28"
    },
    {
      "id": "anthropic-remote-mcp",
      "title": "Anthropic — Custom connectors using remote MCP",
      "href": "https://support.anthropic.com/en/articles/11175166-about-custom-integrations-using-remote-mcp",
      "kind": "docs",
      "publisher": "Anthropic",
      "evidenceType": "documented",
      "reviewedAt": "2026-08-28"
    },
    {
      "id": "anthropic-desktop-mcp",
      "title": "Anthropic — Local MCP servers on Claude Desktop",
      "href": "https://support.anthropic.com/en/articles/10949351-getting-started-with-local-mcp-servers-on-claude-desktop",
      "kind": "docs",
      "publisher": "Anthropic",
      "evidenceType": "documented",
      "reviewedAt": "2026-08-28"
    },
    {
      "id": "anthropic-claude-code-cli",
      "title": "Anthropic — Claude Code CLI reference",
      "href": "https://docs.anthropic.com/en/docs/claude-code/cli-usage",
      "kind": "docs",
      "publisher": "Anthropic",
      "evidenceType": "documented",
      "reviewedAt": "2026-08-28"
    },
    {
      "id": "cursor-mcp",
      "title": "Cursor — Model Context Protocol",
      "href": "https://docs.cursor.com/context/model-context-protocol",
      "kind": "docs",
      "publisher": "Cursor",
      "evidenceType": "documented",
      "reviewedAt": "2026-08-28"
    },
    {
      "id": "openai-codex-mcp",
      "title": "OpenAI — Introducing upgrades to Codex",
      "href": "https://openai.com/index/introducing-upgrades-to-codex/",
      "kind": "note",
      "publisher": "OpenAI",
      "evidenceType": "documented",
      "reviewedAt": "2026-08-28"
    },
    {
      "id": "gemini-cli-mcp",
      "title": "Gemini CLI — MCP server documentation",
      "href": "https://github.com/google-gemini/gemini-cli/blob/main/docs/tools/mcp-server.md",
      "kind": "docs",
      "publisher": "Google",
      "evidenceType": "documented",
      "reviewedAt": "2026-08-28"
    },
    {
      "id": "vscode-agent-tools",
      "title": "Visual Studio Code — Tools in agents",
      "href": "https://code.visualstudio.com/docs/copilot/concepts/tools",
      "kind": "docs",
      "publisher": "Microsoft",
      "evidenceType": "documented",
      "reviewedAt": "2026-08-28"
    },
    {
      "id": "openwork-mcp",
      "title": "OpenWork — Add an MCP server",
      "href": "https://openworklabs.com/docs/start-here/connect-your-stack/add-an-mcp-server",
      "kind": "docs",
      "publisher": "OpenWork",
      "evidenceType": "documented",
      "reviewedAt": "2026-08-28"
    },
    {
      "id": "xai-grok-bot-team-mcp",
      "title": "xAI — Grok Bot for teams and enterprises",
      "href": "https://docs.x.ai/grok-bot/teams-and-enterprises",
      "kind": "docs",
      "publisher": "xAI",
      "evidenceType": "documented",
      "reviewedAt": "2026-08-28",
      "locator": "Plugins and MCP policy"
    },
    {
      "id": "xai-grok-web-mcp",
      "title": "xAI — Grok connectors",
      "href": "https://docs.x.ai/grok/connectors",
      "kind": "docs",
      "publisher": "xAI",
      "evidenceType": "documented",
      "reviewedAt": "2026-08-28",
      "locator": "Custom MCP connectors"
    },
    {
      "id": "cline-mcp-docs",
      "title": "Cline — Model Context Protocol",
      "href": "https://docs.cline.bot/mcp/mcp-overview",
      "kind": "docs",
      "publisher": "Cline",
      "evidenceType": "documented",
      "reviewedAt": "2026-08-28",
      "locator": "What MCP gives you; quick start; managing servers"
    },
    {
      "id": "continue-mcp-client-source",
      "title": "Continue source — MCP desktop client at 5522c6f",
      "href": "https://github.com/continuedev/continue/blob/5522c6f44ca0ac3528b37244818fbfa39b5af470/core/context/mcp/MCPConnection.ts",
      "kind": "docs",
      "publisher": "Continue",
      "evidenceType": "documented",
      "reviewedAt": "2026-08-28",
      "locator": "listTools and desktop MCP connection"
    },
    {
      "id": "zed-mcp-docs",
      "title": "Zed — Model Context Protocol",
      "href": "https://zed.dev/docs/ai/mcp",
      "kind": "docs",
      "publisher": "Zed Industries",
      "evidenceType": "documented",
      "reviewedAt": "2026-08-28",
      "locator": "Supported Features; Agent Panel Usage; tool permissions"
    }
  ],
  "support": [
    {
      "harness": "grok-web",
      "versions": [
        {
          "track": "current",
          "status": "yes",
          "noteIds": [
            11
          ],
          "target": {
            "kind": "hosted-observation",
            "revision": "2026-08-28 Grok Web connector documentation observation",
            "observedAt": "2026-08-28"
          },
          "environmentProfile": "hosted-default",
          "qualifiers": [
            {
              "type": "transport",
              "value": "custom MCP servers must be remotely reachable; local-only servers require a separate tunnel"
            },
            {
              "type": "auth",
              "value": "server authentication and provider permissions can be required"
            }
          ],
          "evidence": [
            {
              "resourceId": "xai-grok-web-mcp",
              "type": "documented",
              "observedAt": "2026-08-28"
            }
          ]
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "harness": "chatgpt-web",
      "versions": [
        {
          "track": "current",
          "status": "partial",
          "noteIds": [
            1
          ],
          "target": {
            "kind": "hosted-observation",
            "revision": "2026-08-28 hosted documentation observation",
            "observedAt": "2026-08-28"
          },
          "environmentProfile": "hosted-default",
          "qualifiers": [
            {
              "type": "preview",
              "value": "developer mode and full MCP are beta"
            },
            {
              "type": "plan",
              "value": "availability varies by ChatGPT plan"
            },
            {
              "type": "policy",
              "value": "workspace role and administrator controls apply"
            }
          ],
          "evidence": [
            {
              "resourceId": "openai-chatgpt-mcp",
              "type": "documented",
              "observedAt": "2026-08-28"
            }
          ]
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "harness": "claude-web",
      "versions": [
        {
          "track": "current",
          "status": "partial",
          "noteIds": [
            2
          ],
          "target": {
            "kind": "hosted-observation",
            "revision": "2026-08-28 hosted documentation observation",
            "observedAt": "2026-08-28"
          },
          "environmentProfile": "hosted-default",
          "qualifiers": [
            {
              "type": "preview",
              "value": "custom connectors are beta"
            },
            {
              "type": "plan",
              "value": "paid plan required"
            }
          ],
          "evidence": [
            {
              "resourceId": "anthropic-remote-mcp",
              "type": "documented",
              "observedAt": "2026-08-28"
            }
          ]
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "harness": "claude-desktop",
      "versions": [
        {
          "track": "current",
          "status": "partial",
          "noteIds": [
            3
          ],
          "target": {
            "kind": "dated-documentation",
            "revision": "current Claude Desktop documentation",
            "observedAt": "2026-08-28"
          },
          "environmentProfile": "local-default",
          "qualifiers": [
            {
              "type": "policy",
              "value": "extension installation and administrator controls apply"
            },
            {
              "type": "transport",
              "value": "local extensions and remote connectors use different setup paths"
            }
          ],
          "evidence": [
            {
              "resourceId": "anthropic-desktop-mcp",
              "type": "documented",
              "observedAt": "2026-08-28"
            }
          ]
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "harness": "claude-cli",
      "versions": [
        {
          "track": "current",
          "status": "yes",
          "noteIds": [
            4
          ],
          "target": {
            "kind": "dated-documentation",
            "revision": "current Claude Code CLI documentation",
            "observedAt": "2026-08-28"
          },
          "environmentProfile": "local-default",
          "qualifiers": [],
          "evidence": [
            {
              "resourceId": "anthropic-claude-code-cli",
              "type": "documented",
              "observedAt": "2026-08-28"
            }
          ]
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "harness": "cursor",
      "versions": [
        {
          "track": "current",
          "status": "yes",
          "noteIds": [
            5
          ],
          "target": {
            "kind": "dated-documentation",
            "revision": "current Cursor documentation",
            "observedAt": "2026-08-28"
          },
          "environmentProfile": "local-default",
          "qualifiers": [],
          "evidence": [
            {
              "resourceId": "cursor-mcp",
              "type": "documented",
              "observedAt": "2026-08-28"
            }
          ]
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "harness": "codex-cli",
      "versions": [
        {
          "track": "current",
          "status": "yes",
          "noteIds": [
            6
          ],
          "target": {
            "kind": "dated-documentation",
            "revision": "current Codex CLI documentation",
            "observedAt": "2026-08-28"
          },
          "environmentProfile": "local-default",
          "qualifiers": [],
          "evidence": [
            {
              "resourceId": "openai-codex-mcp",
              "type": "documented",
              "observedAt": "2026-08-28"
            }
          ]
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "harness": "gemini-cli",
      "versions": [
        {
          "track": "current",
          "status": "yes",
          "noteIds": [
            7
          ],
          "target": {
            "kind": "dated-documentation",
            "revision": "current Gemini CLI documentation",
            "observedAt": "2026-08-28"
          },
          "environmentProfile": "local-default",
          "qualifiers": [],
          "evidence": [
            {
              "resourceId": "gemini-cli-mcp",
              "type": "documented",
              "observedAt": "2026-08-28"
            }
          ]
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "harness": "vscode-copilot",
      "versions": [
        {
          "track": "current",
          "status": "yes",
          "noteIds": [
            8
          ],
          "target": {
            "kind": "dated-documentation",
            "revision": "current VS Code documentation",
            "observedAt": "2026-08-28"
          },
          "environmentProfile": "local-default",
          "qualifiers": [],
          "evidence": [
            {
              "resourceId": "vscode-agent-tools",
              "type": "documented",
              "observedAt": "2026-08-28"
            }
          ]
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "harness": "openwork-desktop",
      "versions": [
        {
          "track": "current",
          "status": "yes",
          "noteIds": [
            9
          ],
          "target": {
            "kind": "dated-documentation",
            "revision": "current OpenWork MCP documentation",
            "observedAt": "2026-08-28"
          },
          "environmentProfile": "local-default",
          "qualifiers": [
            {
              "type": "auth",
              "value": "documented OAuth setup currently expects dynamic client registration"
            }
          ],
          "evidence": [
            {
              "resourceId": "openwork-mcp",
              "type": "documented",
              "observedAt": "2026-08-28"
            }
          ]
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "harness": "grok-bot-desktop",
      "versions": [
        {
          "track": "current",
          "status": "yes",
          "noteIds": [
            10
          ],
          "target": {
            "kind": "hosted-observation",
            "revision": "2026-08-28 Grok Bot desktop documentation observation",
            "observedAt": "2026-08-28"
          },
          "environmentProfile": "hosted-default",
          "qualifiers": [
            {
              "type": "policy",
              "value": "team MCP allowlists, denylists, member-install policy, and network allowlists can disable a server"
            },
            {
              "type": "auth",
              "value": "sign-in tokens for hosted MCP servers remain with the backend that runs tool calls on the computer's behalf"
            }
          ],
          "evidence": [
            {
              "resourceId": "xai-grok-bot-team-mcp",
              "type": "documented",
              "observedAt": "2026-08-28"
            }
          ]
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "harness": "cline",
      "versions": [
        {
          "track": "current",
          "status": "yes",
          "noteIds": [
            12
          ],
          "target": {
            "kind": "dated-documentation",
            "revision": "current Cline MCP documentation observed 2026-08-28",
            "observedAt": "2026-08-28"
          },
          "environmentProfile": "local-default",
          "qualifiers": [
            {
              "type": "policy",
              "value": "tool calls can require approval unless the operator places a tool in the server's auto-approval configuration"
            }
          ],
          "evidence": [
            {
              "resourceId": "cline-mcp-docs",
              "type": "documented",
              "observedAt": "2026-08-28"
            }
          ]
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "harness": "continue",
      "versions": [
        {
          "track": "current",
          "status": "yes",
          "noteIds": [
            13
          ],
          "target": {
            "kind": "dated-documentation",
            "revision": "Continue source commit 5522c6f44ca0 observed 2026-08-28",
            "observedAt": "2026-08-28"
          },
          "environmentProfile": "local-default",
          "qualifiers": [
            {
              "type": "policy",
              "value": "MCP tools are available in Agent mode and only from connected servers that declare the tools capability"
            }
          ],
          "evidence": [
            {
              "resourceId": "continue-mcp-client-source",
              "type": "documented",
              "observedAt": "2026-08-28"
            }
          ]
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "harness": "zed-agent",
      "versions": [
        {
          "track": "current",
          "status": "yes",
          "noteIds": [
            14
          ],
          "target": {
            "kind": "dated-documentation",
            "revision": "current Zed MCP documentation observed 2026-08-28",
            "observedAt": "2026-08-28"
          },
          "environmentProfile": "local-default",
          "qualifiers": [
            {
              "type": "policy",
              "value": "Agent profiles, server enablement, and global or per-tool permission rules determine whether a discovered MCP tool can run"
            }
          ],
          "evidence": [
            {
              "resourceId": "zed-mcp-docs",
              "type": "documented",
              "observedAt": "2026-08-28"
            }
          ]
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "html": "/features/mcp-tools",
  "markdown": "/features/mcp-tools.md",
  "json": "/api/v1/features/mcp-tools.json",
  "body": "MCP tools are operations advertised by a Model Context Protocol server and made available for a model or agent to invoke.\n\nThis row asks whether the named harness can connect to an MCP server and call its tools. It does not claim support for every MCP transport, authentication flow, protocol primitive, or third-party server. Plan, rollout, and transport restrictions are marked partial when the public documentation states them.\n\nOnly the current track is sourced in this first wave. Preview and unreviewed harness cells remain unknown."
}