How are policies applied to APIs in MuleSoft?

Policies in MuleSoft are applied to APIs primarily by associating them with specific APIs in Anypoint API Manager. This means that within Anypoint API Manager, developers can define and enforce various policies such as security, throttling, and transformation rules tailored to individual APIs. It allows for flexibility and granularity in managing the behavior and governance of each API based on its requirements and business needs.

By associating policies directly with specific APIs, organizations can ensure that each API enforces the correct level of security and compliance, control the flow of traffic, and adapt to the various use cases unique to each API. This targeted approach aids in maintaining a cohesive governance strategy across diverse service offerings while allowing for customization where necessary.

The other methods of applying policies, such as downloading from external vendors or creating custom scripts, do not provide the same level of integration and management offered by Anypoint API Manager. Moreover, while global policies can be adopted, they lack the specificity and adaptability that associating policies with individual APIs allows. Hence, the correct answer highlights the main function of the API Manager in relation to policy application, providing a streamlined and efficient way to govern APIs effectively.