This application provides a communication method and apparatus. In the method, a first network element creates a buffer queue based on a request of a second network element. Further, the first network element collects data of a corresponding type, sends data in the buffer queue to the second network element, and releases corresponding storage space after the second network element completes a data collection task. In this way, utilization of storage space of the first network element is improved, thereby solving the problem in the conventional technology that the first network element needs to have relatively large storage space capacity.