What component should be used in MuleSoft Composer to access various external systems?

In MuleSoft Composer, the component used to access various external systems is called a Connection. Connections are essential as they provide the necessary configurations and details required to interface with external applications and services. They establish the link between MuleSoft Composer and the external systems, allowing users to retrieve, send, or manipulate data.

Choosing Connections is key because they define the authentication, endpoints, and protocols needed to interact with those external systems. For example, whether you're connecting to a CRM, ERP, or a database, a proper connection setup ensures that the application can communicate effectively and securely.

While adapters facilitate integration by offering pre-built components to connect with specific services, it is the connection that fundamentally enables those adapters or other components to function properly with external systems. Triggers are used to initiate flows or processes based on events, and schedulers are employed for running tasks at predefined times, neither of which directly serves the purpose of establishing connections to external systems in the realm of process automation.