> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://mintlify.com/microsoft/markitdown/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# MCP Server Overview

> Learn about the MarkItDown MCP server and how it enables AI assistants to convert documents to Markdown

The `markitdown-mcp` package provides a lightweight Model Context Protocol (MCP) server that enables AI assistants and other MCP clients to convert documents to Markdown using MarkItDown.

## What is MCP?

The Model Context Protocol (MCP) is an open standard that enables AI assistants to securely access external tools and data sources. MCP allows AI systems to:

* Access tools and execute operations on behalf of users
* Read and process data from various sources
* Maintain context across conversations
* Integrate with local and remote services

MCP servers expose capabilities as "tools" that AI assistants can discover and use. The protocol supports multiple transport modes for different use cases.

## What is MarkItDown MCP?

The MarkItDown MCP server exposes MarkItDown's document conversion capabilities as an MCP tool called `convert_to_markdown`. This enables AI assistants like Claude Desktop to:

* Convert documents from various formats to Markdown
* Process files from HTTP(S) URLs
* Access local files through file:// URIs
* Handle data: URIs for inline content

The server is lightweight and easy to deploy, supporting three transport modes:

* **STDIO**: Standard input/output for local integration
* **Streamable HTTP**: HTTP-based transport for web services
* **SSE (Server-Sent Events)**: Event streaming for real-time updates

## Why Use MarkItDown MCP?

### Seamless AI Integration

Integrate MarkItDown directly into AI workflows without writing custom code. AI assistants can automatically convert documents as needed during conversations.

### Flexible Deployment

Choose the transport mode that fits your use case:

* Use STDIO for local desktop applications like Claude Desktop
* Use HTTP/SSE for web-based services and remote access
* Run in Docker for consistent, isolated environments

### Broad Format Support

Inherit all of MarkItDown's format support:

* Office documents (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
* PDFs and images with OCR
* Audio and video files
* HTML and other web formats
* And more

### Simple Configuration

Configure with a simple JSON file for Claude Desktop or other MCP clients. No complex setup required.

## Key Features

* **Single Tool Interface**: One simple tool (`convert_to_markdown`) handles all document types
* **URI-Based**: Access documents via http:, https:, file:, or data: URIs
* **Plugin Support**: Enable optional plugins via environment variable
* **Docker Ready**: Pre-built Docker image for easy deployment
* **Debugging Support**: Built-in support for mcpinspector debugging tool

## Next Steps

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Installation" icon="download" href="/integrations/mcp/installation">
    Install the markitdown-mcp package
  </Card>

  <Card title="Usage Guide" icon="book" href="/integrations/mcp/usage">
    Learn how to use different server modes
  </Card>

  <Card title="Claude Desktop" icon="robot" href="/integrations/mcp/claude-desktop">
    Integrate with Claude Desktop
  </Card>
</CardGroup>