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

# MCP vs Agent Modes

> Understanding the difference between MCP and Agent modes

## Overview

The MCP Gateway operates in two modes, each optimized for different use cases. Choose the mode that best fits your needs.

## MCP Mode

**Endpoint**: `https://app.apigene.ai/mcp/{genai_app}/mcp`

> **Note**: `{genai_app}` is the name of the agent or MCP that is configured in Apigene admin.

### Capabilities

MCP mode provides core action execution capabilities:

* ✅ List and search actions
* ✅ Execute single actions
* ✅ Batch action execution
* ✅ Parallel multi-action execution
* ✅ Optional: MCP App UI tools (`run_action_ui`, `run_multi_actions_ui`) when UI features are enabled for your environment
* ✅ Optional: Generative UI tools (`show_generative_ui`, template CRUD, `show_generative_ui_from_template`) when generative UI is enabled

### Use Cases

* Simple API integrations
* Direct action execution
* Applications that don't need agent features
* Lightweight integrations

### Available Tools

* `list_actions`
* `search_actions`
* `run_action`
* `run_action_batch`
* `run_multi_actions`
* `run_action_ui` (when MCP App UI is enabled)
* `run_multi_actions_ui` (when MCP App UI is enabled)
* `show_generative_ui` (when generative UI is enabled)
* `list_generative_ui_templates` (when generative UI is enabled)
* `create_generative_ui_template` (when generative UI is enabled)
* `update_generative_ui_template` (when generative UI is enabled)
* `get_generative_ui_template` (when generative UI is enabled)
* `delete_generative_ui_template` (when generative UI is enabled)
* `show_generative_ui_from_template` (when generative UI is enabled)

## Agent Mode

**Endpoint**: `https://app.apigene.ai/agent/{genai_app}/mcp`

> **Note**: `{genai_app}` is the name of the agent or MCP that is configured in Apigene admin.

### Capabilities

Agent mode includes everything in MCP mode plus:

* ✅ All MCP mode features
* ✅ Access to agent instructions
* ✅ Application discovery
* ✅ Context management
* ✅ Context creation and search
* ✅ Agent Skills: list, fetch metadata/files, fetch `SKILL.md` content, and create skills

### Use Cases

* Full agent workflows
* Applications needing context awareness
* Complex multi-step operations
* AI assistants with extended capabilities

### Available Tools

**All MCP Mode Tools Plus:**

* `get_instructions`
* `list_available_apps`
* `list_contexts`
* `get_context`
* `search_contexts`
* `add_context`
* `list_skills`
* `get_skill`
* `get_skill_content`
* `add_skill`

## Choosing the Right Mode

### Use MCP Mode When:

* You only need basic action execution
* You don't need agent instructions
* Context management isn't required
* You want a simpler integration

### Use Agent Mode When:

* You need full agent capabilities
* You want to access agent instructions
* You need context management
* You're building AI assistants
* You want complete workflow support

## Resources Available

### MCP Mode Resources

* App Actions Template
* Action Details Template
* MCP App UI templates (`ui://…`) when MCP App UI is enabled

### Agent Mode Resources

* Agent Instructions
* Available Apps List
* Contexts List
* Context Type Definitions
* Skills list, skill details, and skill content (`apigene://…/skills` — see [resources](/user-guide/mcp-gateway/mcp-gateway-resources))
* App Actions Template
* Action Details Template
* Context Details Template
* MCP App UI resources (`ui://run-action-ui`, `ui://run-multi-actions-ui`) when MCP App UI is enabled
* Generative UI resource (`ui://show-generative-ui`) when generative UI is enabled

## Switching Between Modes

You can use both modes simultaneously by connecting to different endpoints. Each mode maintains its own session and capabilities.

## Next Steps

* [Explore available tools](/user-guide/mcp-gateway/mcp-gateway-tools)
* [See usage examples](/user-guide/mcp-gateway/mcp-gateway-examples)