This document outlines the key functionalities of the Model Context Protocol (MCP) and the Agent-to-Agent (A2A) protocol, derived from their respective JSON schema definitions (schema.json for MCP, dated 2025-03-26, and a2a.json for A2A). It then presents a comparative table to identify common and unique functionalities and analyze interoperability.
Derived from schema.json. MCP facilitates interactions between a "client" (e.g., an LLM-hosting environment or agent framework) and a "server" (providing tools, resources, or prompts).
initialize: Client initiates connection with the server, exchanging capabilities (ClientCapabilities,ServerCapabilities), protocol versions, and implementation information.ping: Client sends to server to check liveness and ensure the connection is active.resources/list: Client requests a list of available data resources from the server.