mcp vs rest api

MCP vs. API: Why the Model Context Protocol Replaces Custom Integrations for AI Agents in 2026

A comprehensive comparison between traditional REST APIs and the Model Context Protocol (MCP) for AI agent integrations. Covers architecture differences, dynamic tool discovery vs. static endpoints, authentication models, security implications, and real-world migration scenarios — with a clear decision framework for teams choosing between custom API code and MCP-based connections.