Patterns · Vol. 09

Pattern

MCP primitives — tools, resources, and prompts

Model an MCP server's surface as three distinct primitives — tools, resources, and prompts — distinguished by who decides when each is used, so that a capability is exposed through the primitive that matches its control model rather than defaulting everything to a tool.

Classification — The three MCP server primitives and who controls each.

Full entry

The complete treatment — problem, how it works, when to use it, sources, and examples — lives in the volume below.

Browse the full pattern index or the catalog.