MCP foundations for buyers
Learn what the Model Context Protocol is, who does what in a connection and how servers differ, so you can read a listing and ask the right questions.
Start the courseAbout this course
- Level
- Foundations
- Access
- Free
- Time
- 40 min
- Lessons
- 3
- Pass mark
- 80%
- Exam attempts
- 3
- Certificate valid for
- 1 year
What you will learn
- Name the parts of an MCP connection: client, server, tool, resource and prompt.
- Tell a transport from a package and from a remote endpoint.
- Compare local stdio and remote Streamable HTTP servers by who runs the code and where data goes.
- Separate activity, support, licence and permission when you read a listing.
Lessons
Questions
Is this course about writing MCP servers?
No. It is for people who choose, buy or approve MCP servers for work. It teaches what you need to read a listing and ask a vendor, not how to write code.
Which version of the protocol does the course follow?
The lessons cite the MCP specification revision 2025-06-18. Check the current revision and your client's documentation before you decide.
Does the certificate show I can approve a server for my company?
No. It is a certificate of completion from this site and records that you passed the exam. It is not a licence, an accreditation or a security audit.