What is MCP?
A plain-language explanation of MCP and how Symbol uses it.
MCP stands for Model Context Protocol. It's the standard that lets AI assistants connect to outside tools and services.
Think of it like a plugin system for AI. Without MCP, your AI assistant only knows what's in the current conversation. With MCP, it can reach out to other apps (like Symbol) to save things, look things up, and bring information back into the conversation.
What this means for you
Once Symbol is connected via MCP, you can talk to your AI naturally:
- "Save this as a Solution" — Symbol saves the capsule
- "Load my Docker context" — Symbol loads your saved notes
- "What did I save about authentication?" — Symbol searches and responds
No copy-pasting. No switching tabs. Everything stays inside your AI conversation.
Does Symbol replace my AI assistant?
No. Symbol is a knowledge base, not an AI. It stores the knowledge you decide to keep. Your AI assistant (Claude, Cursor, etc.) uses Symbol as a source of context when you ask it to.
Is MCP safe?
Yes. Symbol only receives requests that your AI assistant sends on your behalf. Your capsules are tied to your account. Nothing is shared unless you explicitly choose to share it.
Ready to connect? Set up Symbol with your AI assistant.