Use your MCP request to interact with an MCP server

You can interact with Model Context Protocol (MCP) servers with server and client capabilities. These features give AI models further context and extend their capabilities.

Server capabilities are features the server exposes. These capabilities include tools, resources, and prompts. Client capabilities are features the client exposes. They typically require user input. These capabilities include sampling, roots, and elicitation.

When you send requests to a server, the server returns a response. Servers can also send real-time notifications and requests of their own. You can use these interactions to experiment, test, and evaluate a server.

Interact with an MCP server capability

Server capabilities include the following:

• Tools are actions the server can perform for an AI model. For example, an AI model can use a server’s tool to create a calendar event for you.

• Resources are data the server can retrieve for an AI model. For example, an AI model can use a server’s resources to get your schedule from your calendar.

• Prompts are prompt templates the server can suggest for interacting with an AI model. For example, the server can suggest, “Can you create an event for me?” or “Can you show me my schedule for tomorrow?”

To interact with an MCP server capability, do the following:

1. Choose an existing MCP request or create a new one.

2. Click Load Capabilities. If prompted, review the consent prompt and grant Postman access. Postman connects to the server and displays the server’s capabilities.

3. List the server’s capabilities:

   • To list the tools capabilities, open the Tools tab.
   • To list the resources capabilities, open the Resources tab.
   • To list the prompts capabilities, open the Prompts tab.

   You can also Search tools, resources, and prompts.

4. Choose a capability and define its arguments. Postman creates a JSON message for you.

5. Click Run. Postman sends your request.

Postman displays the server’s response in the Response tab. Postman also displays real-time notifications in the Notifications tab. You can search, filter, and clear messages. Each message includes a type and timestamp. To see its details, click the message.

You can also see whether you’re connected or disconnected. To disconnect from the server, click Disconnect next to Run. To reconnect, click Connect.

Interact with an elicitation

Client capabilities include elicitation. Elicitation is when the server requests information from you. For example, if you prompt an AI model to create a calendar event for you, the server can request missing information, such as the date and time.

To interact with an elicitation, do the following:

1. Interact with an MCP server capability that triggers an elicitation request.

2. In the response pane, complete the Elicitation form. Postman creates a JSON response for you.

3. Click Accept. Postman sends your response. You can also Deny or Cancel the request.

Interact with sampling

Client capabilities include sampling. Sampling is when the server prompts an AI model to complete a task it can’t complete itself. For example, if a server can access your calendar, but can’t summarize your weekly schedule, it can prompt an AI model to summarize it for you.

With Postman, you mock the AI model’s response to a sampling request.

To interact with sampling, do the following:

1. Interact with an MCP server capability that triggers a sampling request.

2. In the response pane, complete the Sampling form. You’re mocking the AI model’s response. Postman creates a JSON response for you.

3. Click Accept. Postman sends your response. You can also Deny the request.