Question 31
Domain 4A team wants to expose a 'company policy handbook' (a 60-page PDF) to Claude through an MCP server. Which primitive is the right fit?
Correct answer: C
Explanation
A Resource fits because MCP resources are “URI-addressed data” that clients can attach when relevant, which matches a 60-page PDF handbook. Unlike a tool, it does not perform an action; it simply exposes the document for Claude to read when needed.
Why each option is right or wrong
A. Tool — define `read_handbook` so the model can fetch it on demand.
Tools are for invoking actions or computations, not primarily for publishing reference documents.
B. Prompt — make it a `consult_handbook` template the user picks from the menu.
Prompts provide reusable interaction templates, but they do not represent the handbook content itself.
C. Resource — expose the handbook as a URI-addressed data reference the user can attach when relevant.
MCP Resources are the primitive defined for URI-addressed data that a client can surface to the model on demand, which is exactly how a 60-page PDF handbook should be exposed. The MCP spec distinguishes resources from tools: tools are for callable actions with side effects or computation, while resources are passive data references that can be attached when relevant, so the handbook belongs in a resource rather than a tool or prompt.
D. It doesn't matter; all three are functionally equivalent.
Resources, tools, and prompts serve different roles; they are not interchangeable primitives.