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Resources

Resources are read-only but dynamic data that applications can expose to AI agents. Unlike Tools (which perform actions), Resources provide contextual information that helps the AI understand your environment.

How Resources Work

Resources are application-driven — the client application decides how to use them:
Client Support Matters: Resources are only useful if the client application provides UI for users to select and manage them. If your client doesn’t expose resource controls, users can’t leverage this feature effectively.

Real-World Examples

Resources aren’t just for code editors. They provide context in any domain:

Basic Resource

Resource with Configuration

Async Resources

Resources can be async for database queries or API calls:

Resource with Dynamic Data

The Three MCP Primitives

Understanding when to use each:

Next Steps

Tools

Create actions AI can execute

Prompts

Template prompts for AI