What does MPLS stand for?

MPLS stands for Multiprotocol Label Switching, which is a technique in high-performance telecommunications networks. It is designed to enhance the speed and efficiency of network traffic flow by attaching labels to packets of data. These labels allow routers to make forwarding decisions based on the labels rather than only relying on the longer process of examining the packet’s destination IP address. This results in faster packet forwarding and improved network traffic management.

By utilizing labels, MPLS supports multiple protocols (hence "Multiprotocol") and is capable of supporting a range of network protocols, which makes it versatile for various types of data traffic. It is especially useful for managing data traffic in both wide area networks (WANs) and enterprise networks, offering features like Quality of Service (QoS) and traffic engineering capabilities. This combination of factors showcases why "Multiprotocol Label Switching" is the correct definition for MPLS.

The other options do not accurately reflect the widely accepted and utilized meaning of MPLS in the telecommunications field.