
How Claude Code Connects to External Tools Through MCP
Claude Code is more than an AI coding assistant that reads files and generates code. Through the Model Context Protocol (MCP), it can connect to external tools, APIs, databases, and services, extending its capabilities beyond the local development environment. But how does this connection actually work? This article explores the engineering behind MCP, from its client-server architecture and tool discovery process to request execution and external API communication. It also examines how Claude Code handles authentication, permissions, security risks, and reliability when interacting with external systems, revealing how a coding assistant becomes a connected engineering agent.

