Glossary

Protocol

MCP (Model Context Protocol)

An open standard for connecting AI systems to tools and data sources.

Definition

MCP defines a structured way for AI systems to discover and call tools or data sources. In commerce, it can expose product, inventory, CRM, order, or support capabilities through controlled interfaces.

Why it matters

MCP can reduce integration sprawl, but broad tool access without risk classes and approval gates creates a new governance problem.

How HARNEXA uses it

HARNEXA treats MCP tools as narrow, risk-classed, identity-bound interfaces that can be logged and inspected.

FAQ

Questions this definition answers.

Does MCP make tools safe automatically?

No. MCP standardizes access. Safety still depends on permissions, risk classes, approval, and audit evidence.

Which MCP tools should be exposed first?

Read-only tools, then proposal tools, then guarded write tools only after approval and support boundaries exist.

Related terms

ProtocolWebMCPA browser-context approach for exposing website actions as structured tools for AI agents.ProtocolCommerce protocol stackThe emerging set of agent-readable commerce standards: MCP, WebMCP, A2A, UCP, ACP, AP2, and payment rails.Risk classREAD_ONLY risk classThe risk class for analysis or retrieval tool calls that do not change external state.

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