MCP Channel Messaging - Claude Code
Receive push messages from MCP servers via channels.
MCP channels let a server push messages into the session - deploy finished, alert fired, task completed - instead of waiting for Claude to poll.
What it does
The server opens a channel with a name and topic. When events happen server-side, it sends messages into the Claude Code session. The model sees them as they arrive and can react in the current or next turn. This reverses the usual request-response flow and opens up real-time integrations.
When to use it
- Long-running jobs where "tell me when done" is more efficient than polling.
- Alert and observability integrations that should surface in-session.
- Chat or collaboration bridges where messages arrive without being asked.
- Build/deploy dashboards that push status rather than expose an endpoint.
Gotchas
- Channel messages interrupt the conversation flow. Noisy channels are distracting.
- Backpressure matters - a server that spams can wedge a session.
- Not every client supports channels yet. Check client compatibility when designing.
Official docs: https://code.claude.com/docs/en/mcp.md#push-messages-with-channels
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