tools-only Model Context Protocol (MCP) Tools
The Model Context Protocol (MCP) is an open protocol that standardizes how applications provide context to Large Language Models. Strands Agents integrates with MCP to extend agent capabilities through external tools and services.
MCP enables communication between agents and MCP servers that provide additional tools. Strands includes built-in support for connecting to MCP servers and using their tools in both Python and TypeScript.
Quick Start
=== "Python"
```python
from mcp import stdio_client, StdioServerParameters
from strands import Agent
from strands.tools.mcp import MCPClient
# Create MCP client with stdio transport
mcp_client = MCPClient(lambda: stdio_client(
StdioServerParameters(
command="uvx",
args=["awslabs.aws-documentation-mcp-server@latest"]
)
))
# Pass MCP client directly to agent - lifecycle managed automatically
agent = Agent(tools=[mcp_client])
agent("What is AWS Lambda?")
```
=== "TypeScript"
```typescript
--8<-- "user-guide/concepts/tools/mcp-tools.ts:quick_start"
```
Integration Approaches
=== "Python"
**Managed Integration (Recommended)**
The `MCPClient` implements the `ToolProvider` interface, enabling direct usage in the Agent constructor with automatic lifecycle management:
```python
from mcp import stdio_client, StdioServerParameters
from strands import Agent
from strands.tools.mcp import MCPClient
mcp_client = MCPClient(lambda: stdio_client(
StdioServerParameters(
command="uvx",
args=["awslabs.aws-documentation-mcp-server@latest"]
)
))
# Direct usage - connection lifecycle managed automatically
agent = Agent(tools=[mcp_client])
response = agent("What is AWS Lambda?")
```
**Manual Context Management**
For cases requiring explicit control over the MCP session lifecycle, use context managers:
```python
with mcp_client:
tools = mcp_client.list_tools_sync()
agent = Agent(tools=tools)
agent("What is AWS Lambda?") # Must be within context
```
=== "TypeScript"
**Direct Integration**
`McpClient` instances are passed directly to the agent. The client connects lazily on first use:
```typescript
--8<-- "user-guide/concepts/tools/mcp-tools.ts:direct_integration"
```
Tools can also be listed explicitly if needed:
```typescript
--8<-- "user-guide/concepts/tools/mcp-tools.ts:explicit_tools"
```
Transport Options
Both Python and TypeScript support multiple transport mechanisms for connecting to MCP servers.
Standard I/O (stdio)
For command-line tools and local processes that implement the MCP protocol:
=== "Python"
```python
from mcp import stdio_client, StdioServerParameters
from strands import Agent
from strands.tools.mcp import MCPClient
# For macOS/Linux:
stdio_mcp_client = MCPClient(lambda: stdio_client(
StdioServerParameters(
command="uvx",
args=["awslabs.aws-documentation-mcp-server@latest"]
)
))
# For Windows:
stdio_mcp_client = MCPClient(lambda: stdio_client(
StdioServerParameters(
command="uvx",
args=[
"--from",
"awslabs.aws-documentation-mcp-server@latest",
"awslabs.aws-documentation-mcp-server.exe"
]
)
))
with stdio_mcp_client:
tools = stdio_mcp_client.list_tools_sync()
agent = Agent(tools=tools)
response = agent("What is AWS Lambda?")
```
=== "TypeScript"
```typescript
--8<-- "user-guide/concepts/tools/mcp-tools.ts:stdio_transport"
```
Streamable HTTP
For HTTP-based MCP servers that use Streamable HTTP transport:
=== "Python"
```python
from mcp.client.streamable_http import streamablehttp_client
from strands import Agent
from strands.tools.mcp import MCPClient
streamable_http_mcp_client = MCPClient(
lambda: streamablehttp_client("http://localhost:8000/mcp")
)
with streamable_http_mcp_client:
tools = streamable_http_mcp_client.list_tools_sync()
agent = Agent(tools=tools)
```
Additional properties like authentication can be configured:
```python
import os
from mcp.client.streamable_http import streamablehttp_client
from strands.tools.mcp import MCPClient
github_mcp_client = MCPClient(
lambda: streamablehttp_client(
url="https://api.githubcopilot.com/mcp/",
headers={"Authorization": f"Bearer {os.getenv('MCP_PAT')}"}
)
)
```
#### AWS IAM
For MCP servers on AWS that use SigV4 authentication with IAM credentials, you can conveniently use the [`mcp-proxy-for-aws`](https://pypi.org/project/mcp-proxy-for-aws/) package to handle AWS credential management and request signing automatically. See the [detailed guide](https://dev.to/aws/no-oauth-required-an-mcp-client-for-aws-iam-k1o) for more information.
First, install the package:
```bash
pip install mcp-proxy-for-aws
```
Then you use it like any other transport:
```python
from mcp_proxy_for_aws.client import aws_iam_streamablehttp_client
from strands.tools.mcp import MCPClient
mcp_client = MCPClient(lambda: aws_iam_streamablehttp_client(
endpoint="https://your-service.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/mcp",
aws_region="us-east-1",
aws_service="bedrock-agentcore"
))
```
=== "TypeScript"
```typescript
--8<-- "user-guide/concepts/tools/mcp-tools.ts:streamable_http"
```
Server-Sent Events (SSE)
=== "Python"
For HTTP-based MCP servers that use Server-Sent Events transport:
```python
from mcp.client.sse import sse_client
from strands import Agent
from strands.tools.mcp import MCPClient
sse_mcp_client = MCPClient(lambda: sse_client("http://localhost:8000/sse"))
with sse_mcp_client:
tools = sse_mcp_client.list_tools_sync()
agent = Agent(tools=tools)
```
=== "TypeScript"
```typescript
--8<-- "user-guide/concepts/tools/mcp-tools.ts:sse_transport"
```
Using Multiple MCP Servers
Combine tools from multiple MCP servers in a single agent:
=== "Python"
```python
from mcp import stdio_client, StdioServerParameters
from mcp.client.sse import sse_client
from strands import Agent
from strands.tools.mcp import MCPClient
# Create multiple clients
sse_mcp_client = MCPClient(lambda: sse_client("http://localhost:8000/sse"))
stdio_mcp_client = MCPClient(lambda: stdio_client(
StdioServerParameters(command="python", args=["path/to/mcp_server.py"])
))
# Manual approach - explicit context management
with sse_mcp_client, stdio_mcp_client:
tools = sse_mcp_client.list_tools_sync() + stdio_mcp_client.list_tools_sync()
agent = Agent(tools=tools)
# Managed approach
agent = Agent(tools=[sse_mcp_client, stdio_mcp_client])
```
=== "TypeScript"
```typescript
--8<-- "user-guide/concepts/tools/mcp-tools.ts:multiple_servers"
```
Client Configuration
=== "Python"
Python's `MCPClient` supports tool filtering and name prefixing to manage tools from multiple servers.
**Tool Filtering**
Control which tools are loaded using the `tool_filters` parameter:
```python
from mcp import stdio_client, StdioServerParameters
from strands.tools.mcp import MCPClient
import re
# String matching - loads only specified tools
filtered_client = MCPClient(
lambda: stdio_client(StdioServerParameters(
command="uvx",
args=["awslabs.aws-documentation-mcp-server@latest"]
)),
tool_filters={"allowed": ["search_documentation", "read_documentation"]}
)
# Regex patterns
regex_client = MCPClient(
lambda: stdio_client(StdioServerParameters(
command="uvx",
args=["awslabs.aws-documentation-mcp-server@latest"]
)),
tool_filters={"allowed": [re.compile(r"^search_.*")]}
)
# Combined filters - applies allowed first, then rejected
combined_client = MCPClient(
lambda: stdio_client(StdioServerParameters(
command="uvx",
args=["awslabs.aws-documentation-mcp-server@latest"]
)),
tool_filters={
"allowed": [re.compile(r".*documentation$")],
"rejected": ["read_documentation"]
}
)
```
**Tool Name Prefixing**
Prevent name conflicts when using multiple MCP servers:
```python
aws_docs_client = MCPClient(
lambda: stdio_client(StdioServerParameters(
command="uvx",
args=["awslabs.aws-documentation-mcp-server@latest"]
)),
prefix="aws_docs"
)
other_client = MCPClient(
lambda: stdio_client(StdioServerParameters(
command="uvx",
args=["other-mcp-server@latest"]
)),
prefix="other"
)
# Tools will be named: aws_docs_search_documentation, other_search, etc.
agent = Agent(tools=[aws_docs_client, other_client])
```
=== "TypeScript"
TypeScript's `McpClient` accepts optional application metadata:
```typescript
const mcpClient = new McpClient({
applicationName: 'My Agent App',
applicationVersion: '1.0.0',
transport: new StdioClientTransport({
command: 'npx',
args: ['-y', 'some-mcp-server'],
}),
})
```
Tool filtering and prefixing are not currently supported in TypeScript.
Direct Tool Invocation
While tools are typically invoked by the agent based on user requests, MCP tools can also be called directly:
=== "Python"
```python
result = mcp_client.call_tool_sync(
tool_use_id="tool-123",
name="calculator",
arguments={"x": 10, "y": 20}
)
print(f"Result: {result['content'][0]['text']}")
```
=== "TypeScript"
```typescript
// Get tools and find the target tool
const tools = await mcpClient.listTools()
const calcTool = tools.find(t => t.name === 'calculator')
// Call directly through the client
const result = await mcpClient.callTool(calcTool, { x: 10, y: 20 })
```
Implementing an MCP Server
Custom MCP servers can be created to extend agent capabilities:
=== "Python"
```python
from mcp.server import FastMCP
# Create an MCP server
mcp = FastMCP("Calculator Server")
# Define a tool
@mcp.tool(description="Calculator tool which performs calculations")
def calculator(x: int, y: int) -> int:
return x + y
# Run the server with SSE transport
mcp.run(transport="sse")
```
=== "TypeScript"
```typescript
--8<-- "user-guide/concepts/tools/mcp-tools.ts:mcp_server"
```
For more information on implementing MCP servers, see the MCP documentation.
Advanced Usage
=== "Python"
### Elicitation
An MCP server can request additional information from the user by sending an elicitation request. Set up an elicitation callback to handle these requests:
```python
# server.py
from mcp.server import FastMCP
from pydantic import BaseModel, Field
class ApprovalSchema(BaseModel):
username: str = Field(description="Who is approving?")
server = FastMCP("mytools")
@server.tool()
async def delete_files(paths: list[str]) -> str:
result = await server.get_context().elicit(
message=f"Do you want to delete {paths}",
schema=ApprovalSchema,
)
if result.action != "accept":
return f"User {result.data.username} rejected deletion"
# Perform deletion...
return f"User {result.data.username} approved deletion"
server.run()
```
```python
# client.py
from mcp import stdio_client, StdioServerParameters
from mcp.types import ElicitResult
from strands import Agent
from strands.tools.mcp import MCPClient
async def elicitation_callback(context, params):
print(f"ELICITATION: {params.message}")
# Get user confirmation...
return ElicitResult(
action="accept",
content={"username": "myname"}
)
client = MCPClient(
lambda: stdio_client(
StdioServerParameters(command="python", args=["/path/to/server.py"])
),
elicitation_callback=elicitation_callback,
)
with client:
agent = Agent(tools=client.list_tools_sync())
result = agent("Delete 'a/b/c.txt' and share the name of the approver")
```
For more information on elicitation, see the [MCP specification](https://modelcontextprotocol.io/specification/draft/client/elicitation).
{{ ts_not_supported_code() }}
Best Practices
- Tool Descriptions: Provide clear descriptions for tools to help the agent understand when and how to use them
- Error Handling: Return informative error messages when tools fail to execute properly
- Security: Consider security implications when exposing tools via MCP, especially for network-accessible servers
- Connection Management: In Python, always use context managers (
withstatements) to ensure proper cleanup of MCP connections - Timeouts: Set appropriate timeouts for tool calls to prevent hanging on long-running operations
Troubleshooting
MCPClientInitializationError (Python)
Tools relying on an MCP connection must be used within a context manager. Operations will fail when the agent is used outside the with statement block.
# Correct
with mcp_client:
agent = Agent(tools=mcp_client.list_tools_sync())
response = agent("Your prompt") # Works
# Incorrect
with mcp_client:
agent = Agent(tools=mcp_client.list_tools_sync())
response = agent("Your prompt") # Fails - outside context
Connection Failures
Connection failures occur when there are problems establishing a connection with the MCP server. Verify that:
- The MCP server is running and accessible
- Network connectivity is available and firewalls allow the connection
- The URL or command is correct and properly formatted
Tool Discovery Issues
If tools aren't being discovered:
- Confirm the MCP server implements the
list_toolsmethod correctly - Verify all tools are registered with the server
Tool Execution Errors
When tool execution fails:
- Verify tool arguments match the expected schema
- Check server logs for detailed error information