---
title: "MCP host: definition and example | Agent MCP Directory"
description: "MCP host: The LLM application that starts client connections and asks the user for consent. Defined with a sourced example."
canonical: https://agentmcpdirectory.com/glossary/mcp-host
site: "Agent MCP Directory"
last_updated: 2026-11-04
section: "Glossary"
---

# MCP host: definition and example | Agent MCP Directory

> MCP host: The LLM application that starts client connections and asks the user for consent. Defined with a sourced example.

Source: https://agentmcpdirectory.com/glossary/mcp-host
Site: Agent MCP Directory
Last reviewed: 2026-11-04

# MCP host

MCP host: The LLM application that starts client connections and asks the user for consent. Example: The spec names hosts, clients and servers as the three roles. Next in the glossary is MCP registry: A catalog of MCP server metadata that clients and directories read; the official one is registry.modelcontextprotocol.io.

## Definition

The LLM application that starts client connections and asks the user for consent.

## Example, with source

The spec names hosts, clients and servers as the three roles. ([modelcontextprotocol.io](https://modelcontextprotocol.io/specification/latest), read 4 November 2026)

## Where it appears on this site

-   [MCP](https://agentmcpdirectory.com/standards/mcp/)

## Neighbouring terms

-   [MCP gateway](https://agentmcpdirectory.com/glossary/mcp-gateway/): A proxy in front of MCP servers that authenticates callers, injects upstream credentials, filters tools and logs calls.
-   [MCP registry](https://agentmcpdirectory.com/glossary/mcp-registry/): A catalog of MCP server metadata that clients and directories read; the official one is registry.modelcontextprotocol.io.
-   [MCP server](https://agentmcpdirectory.com/glossary/mcp-server/): A program that exposes tools, resources or prompts to MCP clients over stdio or Streamable HTTP.

Edition

4 November 2026

Method

[How rows are verified](https://agentmcpdirectory.com/method/)

Data

[CSV and JSON](https://agentmcpdirectory.com/data/)

Markdown

[This page as markdown](https://agentmcpdirectory.com/glossary/mcp-host/index.md)

## Sources

-   [Source for the MCP host example](https://modelcontextprotocol.io/specification/latest), read 4 November 2026

Last reviewed 4 November 2026