# AI Connector

An AI connector links an AI system with an external data source or API, often standardized by a protocol like the model context protocol (MCP).

## **What is an AI connector?**

In the context of AI search and LLM extension, an **AI connector** is a pre-built software component or interface designed to link an AI system with an external data source, tool, or API.

The MCP functions as a standardized framework to define how these **AI connectors** operate, allowing them to provide capabilities and context to an LLM in a structured, discoverable, and secure manner.

**Learn more:** For a comprehensive look at AI connectors, how they interact with APIs and MCP, and best practices for leveraging them, explore our guide to [AI connectors](/content/academy/ai-connectors-for-llms/index.html).