INFORMATION RETRIEVING DEVICE

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make a retrieving time constant, to shorten it, and to utilize effectively memory resources of a CAM while enabling to perform multi-bit retrieving exceeding bit width limit per one word of the CAM. SOLUTION: In CAMs 20a, 20b in which a retrieving key is divided into a plurality of keys and information for specifying contents information is stored when the retrieving key for retrieving contents information stored in a retrieving result storing memory 30b is inputted, an address of information coinciding with the inputted retrieving key is extracted, access is performed for the retrieving result storing memory 30a using the address. After that, pointer information is extracted from the retrieving result storing memory 30a and these are added, access is performed for the retrieving result storing memory 30b using this addition result as an address, Thereby, desired contents information is extracted from the retrieving result storing memory 30b.