Error protection for lookup operations performed on ternary content-addressable memory entries

An apparatus configured to identify a highest-priority matching entry, the apparatus comprising:

• a plurality of groups of ternary content-addressable memory entries, each of said entries includes a value, a mask and at least one error code;
• logic configured to perform a lookup operation on said groups of ternary content-addressable memory entries based on a lookup word to determine the highest-priority matching entry;
• wherein said lookup operation includes:
• (a) for each particular group of said groups of entries, determining a highest-priority possible hit entry in said particular group, if any, for the lookup word;
• (b) for each particular highest-priority possible hit entry of said determined highest-priority possible hit entries, determining whether or not said particular highest-priority possible hit entry is a candidate for being the highest-priority matching entry based on said error code of said particular highest-priority possible hit entry, wherein said particular highest-priority possible hit entry is a candidate for being the highest-priority matching entry if it is a hit or a suspected hit, else it is not a candidate;
• and (c) determining a highest-priority candidate entry from said determined candidate entries.