Various embodiments are described for performing pattern matching for content based switching. In one embodiment, an apparatus may include a document parser and a pattern parser. The document parser may be arranged to parse a document having transaction information and to create a document object from the transaction information. The pattern parser may be arranged to parse pattern information of a pattern for one or more elements according to a predefined pattern object data structure and to place the elements in appropriate blocks within the pattern object data structure. Other embodiments are described and claimed.