Encoding forwarding policy data in multiprotocol label switching (MPLS) labels

A network device, comprising:

• one or more memories;
• and
• one or more processors to:
• receive a multiprotocol label switching (MPLS) packet destined for a destination via a label-switched path;
• determine whether to apply a first special purpose label (SPL) option or a second SPL option for a label stack of the MPLS packet;
• apply, when the first SPL option is determined to be applied, one of:
• a first type of the first SPL option for the label stack, via a policy data indicator and policy data,
• wherein the label stack continues after the policy data ends in the first type of the first SPL option, or
• a second type of the first SPL option for the label stack, via the policy data indicator and the policy data,
• wherein the label stack and the policy data end together in the second type of the first SPL option;
• and
• cause the MPLS packet to be provided to the destination, via the label-switched path, based on the first type of the first SPL option or the second type of the first SPL option applied to the MPLS packet.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing a set of instructions, the set of instructions comprising:

• one or more instructions that, when executed by one or more processors of a network device, cause the network device to:
• receive a multiprotocol label switching (MPLS) packet destined for a destination via a label-switched path;
• determine whether to apply a first special purpose label (SPL) option or a second SPL option for a label stack of the MPLS packet;
• apply, when the first SPL option is determined to be applied, one of:
• a first type of the first SPL option for the label stack, via a policy data indicator and policy data, wherein the label stack continues after the policy data ends in the first type of the first SPL option, or
• a second type of the first SPL option for the label stack, via the policy data indicator and the policy data, wherein the label stack and the policy data end together in the second type of the first SPL option;
• and
• apply, when the second SPL option is determined to be applied, one of:
• a first type of the second SPL option for the label stack, via the policy data indicator and the policy data, wherein the policy data continues after the label stack appears to end in the first type of the second SPL option,
• a second type of the second SPL option for the label stack, via the policy data indicator and the policy data, wherein the policy data continues after the label stack appears to end and the label stack continues and ends after the policy data ends in the first type of the second SPL option,
• a third type of the second SPL option for the label, via the policy data indicator and the policy data, wherein the policy data is provided after the label stack appears to end and the label stack and the policy data end together in the third type of the second SPL option, or
• a fourth type of the second SPL option for the label, via the policy data indicator and the policy data, wherein the policy data is provided after the label stack appears to end and the label stack continues and ends after the policy data ends in the fourth type of the second SPL option;
• and
• forward the MPLS packet to a hop of the label-switched path based on the first type of the first SPL option, the second type of the first SPL option, the first type of the second SPL option, the second type of the second SPL option, the third type of the second SPL option, or the fourth type of the second SPL option applied to the MPLS packet.