SMRTR ProgrammingMar 22, 2026Daily.dev

MCP vs Function Calling – How They Actually Work Together

SMRTR summary

MCP and function calling work together in AI systems rather than competing. Function calling lets models express intent through structured JSON requests, while MCP standardizes how those requests execute across tools and providers. MCP solves vendor lock-in by providing a universal protocol, but adds complexity that's only worthwhile for systems with 10+ tools or multi-provider architectures.

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