A multidata framework is provided to allow multiple payload buffers to be associated with a single multidata message. In the multidata framework of the present invention, a number of payload buffers are associated with the multidata following allocation of the multidata header buffer. The number of payload buffers can reside at disjoint virtual address locations in memory. Each payload buffer is assigned an index for identification purposes. A number of packets are defined to represent the multidata message. Each packet includes a header portion and a payload portion. The payload portion is defined as a set of payload spans. Each payload span is mapped to the payload portion of the appropriate packet by an appropriate payload buffer index and address range in the appropriate payload buffer. Thus, a packet's payload portion can include payload spans that are located at disjoint virtual address location in memory.