# Regarding "BYTES LABEL SWITCHED" in MPLS Forwarding table
**URL:** https://forum.networklessons.com/t/regarding-bytes-label-switched-in-mpls-forwarding-table/15138
**Category:** MPLS
**Created:** [August 13, 2021, 2:14pm UTC](https://forum.networklessons.com/t/regarding-bytes-label-switched-in-mpls-forwarding-table/15138 "2021-08-13T14:14:17Z")
**Posts on this page:** 3
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@ashish7aditya](https://forum.networklessons.com/u/ashish7aditya)
#### Post date: [August 13, 2021, 2:14pm UTC](https://forum.networklessons.com/t/regarding-bytes-label-switched-in-mpls-forwarding-table/15138/1 "2021-08-13T14:14:17Z")
Hi,
Just wanted to understand the significance of “Bytes Label switched” field present in “sh mpls forwarding-table” cmd’s o/p .. what it means, why value is always “0” and can it be non-zero as well, if Yes, when?
Best Regards!
Ashish JAIN
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### Author:  [@lagapidis](https://forum.networklessons.com/u/lagapidis)
#### Post date: [August 16, 2021, 8:39am UTC](https://forum.networklessons.com/t/regarding-bytes-label-switched-in-mpls-forwarding-table/15138/2 "2021-08-16T08:39:55Z")
Hello Ajain
The `show mpls forwarding-table` command is used to display the contents of the MPLS label forwarding information base (LFIB). Within the LFIB, there is a column with the heading “Bytes Label Switched” as you state in your post. This value shows the number of bytes switched with this incoming label. The total value includes the size of the outgoing label and the Layer 2 header as well.
If you see values of 0, this means that this particular label is not being used to switch traffic. Note however that traffic will increase this counter **only if the traffic is entering the route labeled**. If the traffic is entering on the head end of the LSP, that is, from the customer, and it is plain IP traffic, then CEF switches it, and this value will remain zero.
Take a look at the following Cisco documentation that describes the output of this command in more detail.
> **[Command Reference, Cisco IOS XE Fuji 16.9.x (Catalyst 9400 Switches) - MPLS...](https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/td/docs/switches/lan/catalyst9400/software/release/16-9/command_reference/b_169_9400_cr/mpls_commands.html#id_136254)**
>
> MPLS chapter wrapper for command reference
I hope this has been helpful!
Laz
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### Author:  [@ashish7aditya](https://forum.networklessons.com/u/ashish7aditya)
#### Post date: [January 14, 2022, 10:42pm UTC](https://forum.networklessons.com/t/regarding-bytes-label-switched-in-mpls-forwarding-table/15138/3 "2022-01-14T22:42:57Z")
Just today I understood what you meant by above lines 🙂 .. It implies how many traffic bytes (that used this this particular Label as a Label Tag) were switched .. If it is a native IPv4 traffic example coming from any CE to Ingress PE Router, then it will follow normal Routing with help of CEF instead of label switching @ this PE, thus value will remain “0” .. however, across the LSP @ “P” routers that it will travers, the Bytes label switched will be non-zero (& will depend on the traffic Bytes tagged with this particular label @ this particular router) ..
got the concept now .. thx Laz & team NW Lessons !!