Mule connectors allow integration with external systems and can act as message sources, processors, or recipients. Connectors are either endpoint-based, following a one-way or request-response pattern around protocols like FTP and JMS, or operation-based, following an API-centric pattern. Endpoint connectors are configured as inbound or outbound endpoints in flows, while operation connectors immediately define a specific operation. Many connectors require global configuration for connection details rather than configuring at the flow level.