An algorithmic TCAM based ternary lookup method is provided. The method stores entries for ternary lookup into several sub-tables. All entries in each sub-table have a sub-table key that includes the same common portion of the entry. No two sub-tables are associated with the same sub-table key. The method stores the keys in a sub-table keys table in TCAM. Each key has a different priority. The method stores the entries for each sub-table in random access memory. Each entry in a sub-table has a different priority. The method receives a search request to perform a ternary lookup for an input data item. A ternary lookup into the ternary sub-table key table stored in TCAM is performed to retrieve a sub-table index. The method performs a ternary lookup across the entries of the sub-table associated with the retrieved index to identify the highest priority matched entry for the input data item.