Why This Matters#

Imagine Claude Code is your assistant sitting at a computer. By default, it can work with files and run commands. But what if you need it to check a task in Jira, read a message in Slack, or query a database?

That’s what MCP servers are for — “adapters” that connect Claude Code to external services and tools.

What is MCP#

MCP (Model Context Protocol) is a standard way to connect AI tools to external services. Think of it as USB ports for Claude: each MCP server is a “device” you plug in to gain new capabilities.

💡 Protocol is a set of communication rules. Like a language: if both speak the same language (protocol), they understand each other. MCP is the “language” Claude Code uses to communicate with external services.

What You Can Connect#

And many more — the list keeps growing.

Connection Types#

There are three ways to connect an MCP server:

1. Remote HTTP Server (Recommended)#

The service runs in the cloud; you just specify its address:

claude mcp add --transport http notion https://mcp.notion.com/mcp

2. Remote SSE Server#

Similar to HTTP but uses a different data transfer technology:

claude mcp add --transport sse asana https://mcp.asana.com/sse

3. Local Server (stdio)#

A program that runs directly on your computer:

claude mcp add --transport stdio airtable -- npx -y airtable-mcp-server

💡 For beginners, remote servers (HTTP/SSE) work best — they don’t require installing additional software.

Step-by-Step: Connecting an MCP Server#

Step 1. Choose a Service#

Decide which service you need. For this example, we’ll connect Notion.

Step 2. Add the Server#

Open a terminal and run:

claude mcp add --transport http notion https://mcp.notion.com/mcp

Breaking down the command:

• claude mcp add — “add an MCP server”
• --transport http — connection type (via internet)
• notion — the name you give the server (can be anything)
• https://mcp.notion.com/mcp — server address

Step 3. Authorize (If Needed)#

Some servers require an access key:

claude mcp add --transport http my-api https://api.example.com/mcp \
  --header "Authorization: Bearer your-access-key"

💡 Bearer token (access token) is a “password” for an API service. You can usually get it in the service’s settings.

Step 4. Verify the Connection#

Launch Claude Code and type:

/mcp

You’ll see a list of connected servers and their status.

Managing Servers#

View All Connected Servers#

claude mcp list

Details About a Specific Server#

claude mcp get notion

Remove a Server#

claude mcp remove notion

Usage Examples#

Working with Tasks from a Tracker#

You: Look at task PROJ-123 in Jira and implement what's
    described in it.

Claude: [reads the task via MCP, understands requirements,
        writes code, creates a commit]

Error Analysis#

You: Check the latest errors in Sentry and fix
    the most frequent one.

Claude: [checks Sentry, finds the error,
        fixes it in the code]

Working with a Database#

You: Find 10 users in the PostgreSQL database
    who registered yesterday.

Claude: [connects to the database via MCP,
        runs the query, shows the result]

Where MCP Configuration is Stored#

Security#

• ⚠️ Don’t share tokens and access keys
• ⚠️ Use project MCP servers only for services needed by the whole team
• ⚠️ Keep personal keys in your personal configuration (~/.claude.json)
• ✅ Claude Code asks permission before using MCP tools

Tips#

• ✅ Start with one server, make sure it works, then connect the next
• ✅ Use /mcp to check server status
• ✅ For team work, add servers to the project’s .mcp.json
• ✅ Remote (HTTP) servers are easier to set up than local ones

Lesson Summary#

• MCP is a standard for connecting Claude Code to external services (Jira, Slack, databases, etc.)
• Servers are connected with claude mcp add
• Three types: HTTP (recommended), SSE, and local (stdio)
• Management: claude mcp list, claude mcp get, claude mcp remove
• Status check inside Claude Code: /mcp
• MCP extends Claude Code’s capabilities far beyond file operations