> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.splox.io/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Connect AI to Your Data Sources

> Learn how to connect external services, APIs, and data sources to your Splox agents using MCP (Model Context Protocol).

Out of the box, your agent can reason and respond — but to take real actions in the world, it needs to connect to external services. In Splox, this is done through **MCP (Model Context Protocol)**: a universal standard for plugging any API, database, or service into your AI agent.

<video controls style={{ borderRadius: '12px', width: '100%', maxWidth: '800px' }}>
  <source src="https://splox-app.s3.amazonaws.com/019c7589-334c-7b35-aef2-4b06b9289445.mp4" type="video/mp4" />

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</video>

## What You'll Learn

* What MCP is and how Splox uses it
* How to connect a service from the MCP marketplace
* How the Tool Router automatically discovers and uses your connections
* How end-users can connect their own accounts at runtime

<img src="https://splox-app.s3.amazonaws.com/019c7589-b21c-7b35-89dd-c1e54b4b49b4.png" alt="MCP marketplace in Splox" style={{ borderRadius: '12px' }} />

## Prerequisites

<CheckList>
  * [ ] A [Splox account](https://app.splox.io)
  * [ ] Completed [Build Your First AI Agent](/tutorials/first-ai-agent)
</CheckList>

***

## What Is MCP?

MCP (Model Context Protocol) is an open standard that defines how AI agents communicate with external tools and services. Think of it as a universal adapter — any service that speaks MCP can be plugged into any MCP-compatible agent.

In Splox, every external integration (Telegram, Slack, GitHub, databases, custom APIs) is an MCP server. When you connect one, your agent gains the ability to call its tools — send messages, query data, trigger actions — all through a single standardized interface.

<Note>You don't need to understand the MCP protocol itself. Splox handles everything — you just connect and use.</Note>

***

## Step 1: Open the MCP Marketplace

1. Go to [app.splox.io](https://app.splox.io)
2. Click **Tools** in the left sidebar
3. Browse or search for the service you want to connect (e.g. Telegram, Slack, Serper)

<img src="https://splox-app.s3.amazonaws.com/019c7589-b21c-7b35-89dd-c1e54b4b49b4.png" alt="MCP marketplace Tools section" style={{ borderRadius: '12px' }} />

***

## Step 2: Connect a Service

1. Click on a service in the marketplace
2. Enter the required credentials (API key, token, etc.)
3. Splox validates the connection live — if it works, it's saved

Your connection is now stored securely (AES-encrypted) and available to any workflow you build.

<img src="https://splox-app.s3.amazonaws.com/019c758a-612e-7b35-a195-18183578d9ed.png" alt="Connecting an MCP server with credentials" style={{ borderRadius: '12px' }} />

<Note>Different services require different credentials — an API key, a bot token, or OAuth login. The marketplace shows exactly what's needed for each one.</Note>

***

## Step 3: Add a Tool Node to Your Workflow

Once connected, add a **Tool** node to your workflow and connect it to your Agent:

1. Right-click on the canvas → **Tool**
2. Connect the Agent's **TOOLS** handle to the Tool node

That's it. The **Tool Router** automatically discovers all your connected MCP servers and their tools. When your agent needs to take an action, it searches your connections, finds the right tool, and calls it.

<img src="https://splox-app.s3.amazonaws.com/019c758b-9899-7b35-9991-6f540ea6af36.png" alt="Tool node connected to agent" style={{ borderRadius: '12px' }} />

***

## Step 4: Run It

1. Open the **Chat** panel
2. Ask your agent to do something that uses the connected service — e.g. `Send a message to my Telegram channel saying hello`
3. The agent will find the right tool, call it, and report back

<img src="https://splox-app.s3.amazonaws.com/019c758c-ef62-7b35-b66c-630b0768657e.png" alt="Agent calling an MCP tool" style={{ borderRadius: '12px' }} />

***

## Advanced: End-User Connections

If you're building a product for others, your end-users can connect **their own accounts** at runtime — without ever touching Splox.

When an agent needs a tool the user hasn't connected yet, the Tool Router generates a **secure connect link** and surfaces it in the chat. The user clicks it, enters their credentials, and the agent continues — all without leaving the conversation.

This works automatically — no extra configuration needed.

***

## Frequently Asked Questions

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="Can I connect multiple services at once?">
    Yes. Connect as many MCP servers as you like. Add multiple Tool nodes to your workflow — one per service, or use a single Tool node and let the Tool Router discover all connections automatically.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Is my data secure?">
    Yes. All credentials are AES-encrypted at rest and never exposed to the agent or LLM. The agent only sees the tool names and their schemas — not your API keys.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Can I connect my own custom API?">
    Yes. Any service that implements the MCP protocol can be connected. You can also self-host an MCP server and connect it via its URL in the Tools section.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="What if a tool isn't in the marketplace?">
    You can connect any MCP-compatible server directly by entering its URL in the Tools section — it doesn't need to be listed in the marketplace.
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

***

## What's Next?

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Multi-Agent Teams" icon="users" href="/tutorials/multi-agent-team">
    Build networks of specialized agents that collaborate on complex tasks
  </Card>

  <Card title="Automate Customer Support" icon="headset" href="/tutorials/automate-customer-support">
    Build a support bot connected to your data sources
  </Card>

  <Card title="Parallel Agents" icon="bolt" href="/tutorials/parallel-agents">
    Run multiple agents simultaneously for faster results
  </Card>

  <Card title="Deploy to Production" icon="rocket" href="/tutorials/deploy-app-to-production">
    Take your workflow live with webhooks and real users
  </Card>
</CardGroup>