A method for accessing a protocol table includes providing a content addressable protocol table comprising a plurality of entries, wherein each entry includes a key field and an output field, constructing a key value from a protocol input, associatively searching the table for an entry whose key field matches the key value constructed from the input, and returning the output field of an entry whose key field matches that of the key value. The table optionally includes a mask field, and searching the table includes seeking the entry whose key field matches a bitwise AND of its mask field with the key value. An error is generated if no matching entry is found on the table.