Use MCP with Codex skills

For Codex, an MCP server supplies live data, authentication, authorization, and controlled actions, while a skill teaches the repeatable workflow for using those tools. This division supports high-quality developer integrations because each page can explain the service boundary, required permissions, action sequence, and what the agent must not infer.

Setup path

How to approach this capability

1
Expose live systems through an MCP server with the narrowest useful tool set and explicit authentication.
2
Pair the server with a skill that tells Codex when and how to call tools, handle ambiguity, and present results.

Distribution decision

MCP dependencies can be declared in plugin configuration and paired with packaged skills.

Governance and safety

Use MCP for controlled actions and a skill for procedural guidance; do not hide authorization or policy decisions in prose alone.

First-party documentation

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Source checked Aug 16, 2026