Inference
Industry Definition Set • Entity Resolution Path: /glossary/inference
Quick Answer / TL;DR
The process of running a trained ML model to generate predictions or outputs from input data, the primary operation of LLMs in production.
Key Takeaways
- Running a trained model to generate outputs.
- Autoregressive for LLMs: one token at a time.
- Can be local (Ollama) or remote (API).
- Primary cost and latency consideration in AI systems.
Definitive Statement: The process of running a trained ML model to generate predictions or outputs from input data, the primary operation of LLMs in production.
Technical Context & Protocol Usage
- Detailed Explanation
- Inference is the 'forward pass' of a neural network: given input tokens, the model predicts the next token (or sequence of tokens). For LLMs, this happens autoregressively, generating one token at a time. In MCP contexts, inference occurs when the LLM decides which tool to call, generates the tool arguments, or produces a final response. Inference can run locally (Ollama, LM Studio) or remotely (OpenAI, Anthropic APIs).
Format & Payload Metadata
Format: Input tokens -> model forward pass -> output tokens
Latency: First token: 200ms-2s; subsequent tokens: 10-100ms each
Real-World Implementation Use Case
An MCP client sends a user prompt to the LLM for inference, receives a tool call decision, executes the tool, and sends the result back for another inference round.
Cite This Page
MLA Style:
MCPserver.in Engineering. "Inference." MCPserver.in Knowledge Hub, 20 July 2026, mcpserver.in/glossary/inference.
Related Terms
Model Context Protocol (MCP)
An open, secure protocol that standardizes how artificial intelligence agents and large language models (LLMs) exchange context, tools, prompts, and data resources with external servers.
JSON-RPC 2.0
A lightweight, stateless remote procedure call (RPC) protocol defined in JSON that utilizes request, response, and notification message frames.
Stdio Transport (Standard Input/Output)
A local-only transport mechanism where the AI client spawns the MCP server as a child process and communicates via standard input (stdin) and standard output (stdout) channels.
SSE Transport (Server-Sent Events)
A lightweight, unidirectional HTTP-based streaming protocol used by remote MCP servers to push messages to AI clients, with client-to-server writes sent over standard POST requests.
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