A device for, and method of, storing data in a memory, and for extracting the data therefrom based on a multi-dimensional input (MDI) key, the device including a first and at least a second associative search engine (ASE), each including: (i) a memory having: (A) a first array of cells containing a field of entries, each of the cells being accessible via an input key including a string corresponding to at least a portion of the MDI key, and (B) a second array of cells having a plurality of associated data entries, each of the associated data entries being associated with a particular one of the entries in the first array, and (ii) control logic for operatively connecting the first and the second ASE, the control logic for processing at least a portion of the entries in the first array from each ASE, in response to the input key, so as to determine a match between the input key and an entry of said entries in said field; the control logic for producing a result pertaining to an associated data entry based on the determination, and wherein the control logic utilizes the result from the first ASE in the processing of the second ASE, so as to narrow searching within the second ASE.