Apparatus and method for storing network frame data which is to be modified. A plurality of buffers stores the network data which is arranged in a data structure identified by a frame control block and buffer control block. A plurality of buffer control blocks associated with each buffer storing the frame data establishes a sequence of the buffers. Each buffer control block has data for identifying a subsequent buffer within the sequence. The first buffer is identified by a field of a frame control block as well as the beginning and ending address of the frame data. The frame data can be modified without rewriting the data to memory by altering the buffer control block and/or frame control block contents without having to copy or rewrite the data in order to modify it.