The present invention discloses a look-up table creation method and query method. The creation method includes: receiving a look-up table create message sent by a controller, where the look-up table create message includes an identifier of a look-up table and a look-up mode of the look-up table; creating a look-up table according to the look-up table create message and setting a look-up mode of the look-up table; receiving an entry add message sent by the controller, where the entry add message includes a to-be-added forwarding action and an index parameter of the forwarding action; and adding, according to the entry add message, an entry corresponding to the entry add message to the look-up table.