A communication node includes: one or more flow table(s) that stores a control information item(s) as set by a controller; and a packet processing unit that searches for a control information item, having a match condition matching a received packet, from the one or more flow table(s), and processes the received packet in accordance with the control information item. In a case where a preset loop instruction is added in the control information item having the match condition matching the received packet, the packet processing unit performs a preset number of times of search for another control information item in the one or more flow table(s) and execution of the searched control information item.