What Are Plugins?
Plugins (also called MCP servers) are add-ons that give Claude new abilities. Each one teaches Claude how to do something new.
Out of the box, Claude Code can read and write files, run commands, and search your projects. With plugins, you can teach it to do things like read a spreadsheet, post to Slack, look up web pages, or work with your favorite tools.
The /mcp Command
Inside any Claude Code session, type:
/mcpThis shows you the MCP management menu where you can see your currently installed servers and add new ones.
Adding an MCP Server
The easiest way to add an MCP server is through the Claude Code settings. Here's the general pattern:
claude mcp add server-name npx @some-org/mcp-serverFor example, to add a file system MCP server:
claude mcp add filesystem npx @anthropic/mcp-filesystemAfter adding a server, Claude automatically has access to its tools in your next session.
Popular MCP Servers
Here are some commonly used MCP servers to get you started:
- Filesystem. Enhanced file operations beyond the built-in ones.
- GitHub. Create pull requests, manage issues, and review code directly from Claude.
- Slack. Send messages, read channels, and search conversations.
- PostgreSQL. Query your database, inspect schemas, and run migrations.
- Fetch. Let Claude browse web pages and pull in documentation or API responses.
Managing Your Servers
To see what's currently installed:
claude mcp listTo remove a server you no longer need:
claude mcp remove server-nameA Practical Example
Let's say you want Claude to be able to search the web while it works. You'd add the Fetch MCP server:
claude mcp add fetch npx @anthropic/mcp-fetchNow when you ask Claude something like "look up the latest React docs and update my component to use the new API," it can actually go fetch that information instead of relying only on its training data.
Finding More Plugins
The MCP ecosystem is growing fast. You can find community-built servers on GitHub by searching for "MCP server" or checking the Anthropic Cookbook for official examples.
What You Learned
MCP servers are how you give Claude superpowers beyond its defaults. You know how to add them, list them, remove them, and where to find new ones. Start with one or two that match your workflow and add more as you need them.
