What is the primary purpose of MPLS labels?

• A. MPLS forwards packets using short labels rather than IP lookups.
• B. MPLS uses encryption for security.
• C. MPLS requires IP to be disabled.
• D. MPLS is a wireless protocol.

Answer: (A)

MPLS labels are used to speed up forwarding by using a short, fixed-length label to make next-hop decisions, instead of performing a full IP destination lookup at every router. When a packet enters an MPLS network, an edge router attaches a label and core routers swap labels as the packet traverses a prebuilt Label Switched Path. This label-based forwarding is faster and more scalable, enabling predictable performance. It also supports traffic engineering, VPNs, and QoS by controlling paths and handling packets efficiently.

Encryption, disabling IP, or being a wireless protocol aren’t inherent purposes of MPLS, which is a data-plane technique that operates between Layer 2 and Layer 3 and works alongside IP routing rather than replacing or requiring it.