// agents · modelcontextprotocol/python-sdk

python-sdk

The official Python SDK for Model Context Protocol servers and clients.

★ 24.5k stars⑂ 4.0k forksMITupdated 2026-10

▦ visual — this project's README ships no embeddable screenshot,
so here's a placeholder. The guide below is complete regardless.

// project facts

Project facts

python-sdk is an open-source ai agents project by modelcontextprotocol (modelcontextprotocol/python-sdk on GitHub). It has 24,508 GitHub stars and 4,018 forks, is released under the MIT license, and was last updated on GitHub on 5 October 2026.

Repository: modelcontextprotocol/python-sdk
GitHub stars: 24,508
Forks: 4,018
License: MIT
Last updated on GitHub: 5 October 2026
Category: AI Agents
Listing: Full install guide
Official site: Official site

// how it works

How it works

Pick a use case
Start with one concrete task rather than a grand architecture.
Fetch the source
Clone the repo and check the examples folder for a quickstart.
Configure it
Install packages, set environment variables, and point it at your model.
Run and iterate
Execute the demo workflow, then adapt it to your own data.

// features

Why people love it

Official implementation

From the team behind the MCP spec.

Spec fidelity

The reference for correct behavior.

Servers and clients

Both sides of the protocol.

Python-native

Async-first Python design.

MIT licensed

Permissive and commercial-friendly.

Well documented

Dedicated docs site with guides.

// run it

Run it yourself

Step 1 - Clone the repo

Download the source and move into the project folder.

git clone https://github.com/modelcontextprotocol/python-sdk.git
cd python-sdk

Step 2 - Install dependencies
Create a virtual environment and install the requirements.
```
python -m venv .venv && source .venv/bin/activate
pip install -r requirements.txt
```
Step 3 - Run an example
Treat these as starting points - the README documents the exact commands.
```
python examples/quickstart.py
```

// use cases

What you can build

Build a spec-exact MCP server in Python.
Write an MCP client for integration tests.
Learn the protocol from its reference code.
Base a higher-level framework on solid foundations.

// faq

Questions, answered

Who maintains this project?

modelcontextprotocol/python-sdk is its home on GitHub, with 4018 forks so far. The contributors tab and recent commits show how actively it is maintained.

Is python-sdk free to use?

Yes - it is MIT licensed, so you can use, modify, and distribute it freely, including in commercial projects.

Do I need a paid API to use it?

The SDK is free; the underlying platform's API may be billed separately - check that service's pricing.

Official SDK vs FastMCP?

The official SDK is the spec-faithful reference; FastMCP is the productivity layer on similar ideas. Learn the SDK to understand the protocol, use FastMCP to ship faster.

How do I get started?

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Get python-sdk

Free and open — grab the source, star the repo, and start creating.

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