Label Switched Paths (LSP)

A Label Switched Path (LSP) is a predetermined route through a network used for transmitting data efficiently. Think of it like a dedicated courier route for a package: the network assigns a label to the data, guiding its journey along an optimized path across multiple switches or routers. This process, central to Multi-Protocol Label Switching (MPLS), ensures faster, more reliable, and predictable data delivery by avoiding complex route calculations at each step. Essentially, an LSP is a virtual pipeline that guarantees data takes a specific, efficient route through the network.