A content addressable memory system includes an array of memory cells arranged in rows and columns in an array of N bit cells by M words, with N bits per word, an I/O bus having a bit capacity S which is a submultiple of N, a mode generator for generating a plurality of commands, the commands including a command write command, a data write command, a data read command, and a status read command, the command write and the status read commands being encodable in S bits or less, and multiplexing means for supplying selected ones of the commands to the I/O bus.