Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS) is a routing technique
in telecommunications networks that directs data from one node to
the next based on short path labels rather than long network addresses,
thus avoiding complex lookups in a routing table and speeding traffic
flows. The labels identify virtual links (paths) between distant
nodes rather than endpoints. MPLS can encapsulate packets of various
network protocols, hence the "multiprotocol" reference on its name.