WebMCP: Chrome's New Standard for AI Agent-Website Interaction

Chrome introduces WebMCP, a new API standard that enables websites to expose structured tools for AI agents, revolutionizing how automated systems interact with web services. Now available for early preview.

Executive Summary

As AI agents become more prevalent, WebMCP (Web Model Context Protocol) emerges as Chrome’s answer to standardizing agent-website interactions. Rather than having AI agents blindly navigate DOM elements, WebMCP provides a structured way for websites to define exactly how agents should interact with them—from booking flights to filing support tickets.

This new standard introduces two complementary APIs:

• Declarative API: For standard actions defined in HTML forms
• Imperative API: For complex, JavaScript-driven interactions

Key Use Cases: Where WebMCP Shines

1. Customer Support Automation

WebMCP enables agents to create detailed support tickets automatically by filling in all necessary technical details. Instead of users manually collecting system information, browser versions, error logs, and reproduction steps, an AI agent can gather this information intelligently and populate forms with precision.

Example workflow:

• User says: “I can’t upload files larger than 5MB”
• Agent automatically collects: browser version, OS details, network info, console errors
• Agent fills support form with structured data
• Support team receives complete, actionable ticket

2. Ecommerce Shopping Assistant

Online shopping becomes more intuitive when agents can navigate product catalogs, apply filters, configure options, and handle checkout flows using structured data rather than guessing button locations.

Example workflow:

• User: “Find me waterproof hiking boots under $150 with good reviews”
• Agent uses WebMCP tools to: search products, filter by price/features, sort by ratings
• Agent presents options with verified data
• User confirms choice, agent handles size selection and checkout with precision

3. Travel Booking Precision

Flight searches involve complex filters, date ranges, airline preferences, and seating options. WebMCP allows agents to interact with travel sites using structured parameters, ensuring searches match user intent exactly.

Example workflow:

• User: “Find direct flights from SFO to NYC next Friday afternoon under $400”
• Agent uses structured search tools: origin=SFO, dest=NYC, stops=0, time=afternoon
• Results are filtered accurately without DOM guesswork
• Agent can handle multi-city bookings, seat selection, and loyalty programs

Technical Deep Dive

Declarative vs Imperative APIs

Declarative API handles straightforward interactions that can be expressed in HTML:

<!-- Website exposes form-based tools -->
<form data-webmcp-tool="search-flights">
  <input name="origin" type="text" />
  <input name="destination" type="text" />
  <input name="date" type="date" />
</form>

Imperative API tackles dynamic scenarios requiring JavaScript:

// Website exposes programmatic tools
window.webmcp.registerTool('configureLaptop', {
  execute: async (specs) => {
    return await customizer.build(specs);
  }
});

Why Structured Matters

Traditional web automation relies on:

• Fragile CSS selectors that break with redesigns
• Unreliable screen scraping
• Slow trial-and-error DOM navigation

WebMCP replaces guesswork with contracts: websites explicitly define their interface for agents, resulting in:

• ⚡ Faster execution (no DOM searching)
• 🎯 Higher accuracy (semantic actions, not pixel hunting)
• 🔧 Easier maintenance (tools evolve with the site)

Why This Matters

WebMCP represents a fundamental shift in how we think about web automation. As AI agents evolve from experimental demos to production assistants, websites need a standard way to communicate their capabilities.

For Website Owners

• Control exactly how agents interact with your site
• Reduce server load from inefficient scraping
• Enable better user experiences through AI assistants

For Users

• AI agents that actually work reliably
• Complex tasks completed faster and more accurately
• Less frustration from automation failures

For Developers

• Clear API contracts instead of DOM archaeology
• Testable, maintainable agent integrations
• Future-proof automation workflows

Get Started

WebMCP is currently available through Chrome’s Early Preview Program. To participate:

1. Sign up for the Early Preview Program
2. Access documentation and demos
3. Start prototyping WebMCP tools for your site
4. Stay updated on API changes and new capabilities

Conclusion

WebMCP marks the beginning of the “agent-ready web”—where websites actively participate in how AI interacts with them rather than being passively scraped. By providing structured, semantic tools, websites can enable faster, more reliable, and more powerful agent experiences.

As AI agents move from experimental curiosities to daily assistants, standards like WebMCP will be crucial infrastructure. Early adopters have the opportunity to shape how their services integrate with the next generation of web automation.

Related Resources

• 📄 Official WebMCP Announcement
• 🔧 Chrome Early Preview Program
• 📚 Chrome for Developers Blog

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Originally published February 10, 2026 by the Chrome team. This analysis published on 2026-02-12.