> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.aiandbusiness.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.aiandbusiness.com/tools-and-tech/ai-agent-tools/agent-to-agent-protocol.md).

# Agent to Agent Protocol

{% hint style="info" %}

* [**MCP**](/tools-and-tech/ai-agent-tools/agent-to-agent-protocol/model-context-protocol-mcp.md)
* [**A2A**](#google-a2a)
  {% endhint %}

### **What’s the difference between MCP and A2A?**

MCP (Model Context Protocol) and A2A (Agent-to-Agent Protocol) serve different purposes and work in distinct ways.

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🧩 **MCP (Model Context Protocol)**\
• **Purpose**: Enables a single AI model to interact with external tools and data sources\
• **How it works**: Uses precise, structured *function calls* to connect with APIs and tools\
• **Best for**: Predictable, well-defined tasks like data retrieval, calculations, or search

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🤖 **A2A (Agent-to-Agent Protocol)**\
• **Purpose**: Allows multiple AI agents to collaborate asynchronously by sharing tasks and outputs\
• **How it works**: Supports flexible task delegation and coordination in multi-agent environments\
• **Best for**: Complex workflows where autonomous agents need to solve problems together

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✅ **Summary**\
• **MCP**: Enhances individual agent capabilities\
• **A2A**: Enables collaboration between multiple agents