A system for steering network traffic to service functions in a service function chain, the system including: a processor; a data storage module; an input interface; an output interface; a classifier configured to determine a path for a data packet in the service function chain; and a forwarder configured to determine the next location to which the data packet will be sent based on the path. A method for steering network traffic to service functions in a service function chain, the method including: classifying a data packet to determine a path for a data packet in the service function chain; and forwarding the data packet to a next location to which the data packet will be sent based on the path.