A content search system includes CAM device, a compiler, and an image loader. The CAM device, which includes a plurality of rows of CAM cells and a number of counter circuits selectively interconnected by a programmable interconnect structure (PRS), performs regular expression search operations. The compiler selectively converts the regular expression into a number of various bit groups, and the image loader loads corresponding bit groups into the CAM cells, into a number of memory elements that control configuration of the PRS, and into the counter circuits.