Primitives
Prompts: reusable workflows
Prompts are reusable message templates. The server packages its best workflows, and the user runs one by name.
Define it in the server
server.pypython
@mcp.prompt(title="Explain a sum")def explain(expression: str) -> str: """Work out a sum step by step.""" return f"Add {expression} with the add tool."← in prompts/list
← what prompts/get returns
Handy for
- Workflows you run often: reviews, triage, reports
- Expert prompts written once, shipped with the server
- Live context, by embedding resources
Run it in Claude Code
> ↵
/mcp__calculator__explain
Explain a sum
/mcp__github__review_pr
Review a pull request
/mcp__postgres__explain_query
Explain a slow query
Claude Code names each prompt /mcp__server__prompt, so prompts from different servers, and its own commands, never clash. Arguments follow, separated by spaces.
Prompts are user-controlled: they run only when the user picks one. The host sends the returned messages to the model as if the user had typed them.