<
networking> A routing technique that uses information from existing IP routing protocols to identify
IP datagrams with labels and forwards them to a modified
switch or
router, which then uses the labels to switch the datagrams through the network.
Label switching combines the best attributes of
data link layer (layer two)
switching (as in
ATM and
Frame Relay) with the best attributes of
network layer (layer three)
routing (as in
IP).
Prior to the formation of the
MPLS Working Group in 1997, a number of vendors had announced and/or implemented proprietary label switching.