Anthropic Claude Code Explained: Distinguishing Native Features From MCP

Anthropic launched Claude Code in February 2025, allowing developers to operate an AI coding agent through a terminal. File access, command execution and memory are native capabilities, while MCP is an open protocol for connecting to databases, enterprise systems and third-party services. The two serve different purposes.

The latest analysis divides the Claude Code architecture into four layers: native features, MCP servers, Skills and Plugins. Skills package repeatable workflows, while Plugins integrate and distribute extensions. The report does not involve any transaction value; instead, it clarifies that core capabilities such as terminal access do not require a separate MCP installation, helping companies avoid misjudging permissions and costs when evaluating adoption.