A method for switching data is provided, which includes the following steps. An output port scheduler obtains state information of Virtual Output Queues (VOQs) and available state information of input port data channels and output port buffers. The output port scheduler sends scheduling request information to a Fabric Interface Controller (FIC) of an input port whose input port data channel is ready in input ports corresponding to non-empty VOQs pointing to an output port. After receiving the scheduling request information sent by the output port schedulers, the FIC of the selected input port selects to respond to a scheduling request of one output port scheduler, and sends the VOQ pointing to the output port in the selected input port to the output port buffer. The output port scheduler schedules the VOQ received by the output port buffer out of a switch chip. A structure for switching data is further provided. In this way, buffer resources of the switch chip are saved and the switching performance of the system is improved.