A method for implementing a forwarding plane of a network (100, 712) in an electronic device (110, 120, 130, 600), the forwarding plane comprising functions, algorithms, data structures and rules to determine where and how to forward information by the electronic device, wherein the method comprises the steps of: receiving, at the electronic device, a forwarding rule of the forwarding plane of the network, wherein the forwarding rule describes desired behavior upon receipt of an incoming data packet, and wherein the network forwarding rule comprises an identifier for a specified function (210; 310; 320; 330) associated with a networking primitive or collection of networking primitives to be performed by the electronic device and representing a defined set of steps that performs at least one task, an implementation of the specified function (220; 312; 322; 332) and an overridable flag specifying whether the specified function may be overridden; if the overridable flag in the forwarding rule indicates that the specified function may be overridden (415, Yes), executing the following: comparing the identifier for the specified function to a set of identifiers for known functions, the known functions having predetermined implementations that are prescribed by the electronic device; if, as a result of the comparing step, the identifier for the specified function is located (430, Yes) in the set of identifiers for known functions: disregarding the implementation of the specified function included in the forwarding rule and implementing the forwarding rule using the specified function on the electronic device using the predetermined implementation prescribed by the electronic device; if, as the result of the comparing step, the identifier for the specified function is not located (430, No) in the set of identifiers for known functions or if the overridable flag in the forwarding rule indicates that the specified function may not be overridden (415, No), executing the following: retrieving the implementation of the specified function from the forwarding rule; and implementing the forwarding rule on the electronic device using the specified function and the retrieved implementation. receiving, at the electronic device, a forwarding rule of the forwarding plane of the network, wherein the forwarding rule describes desired behavior upon receipt of an incoming data packet, and wherein the network forwarding rule comprises an identifier for a specified function (210; 310; 320; 330) associated with a networking primitive or collection of networking primitives to be performed by the electronic device and representing a defined set of steps that performs at least one task, an implementation of the specified function (220; 312; 322; 332) and an overridable flag specifying whether the specified function may be overridden; if the overridable flag in the forwarding rule indicates that the specified function may be overridden (415, Yes), executing the following: comparing the identifier for the specified function to a set of identifiers for known functions, the known functions having predetermined implementations that are prescribed by the electronic device; if, as a result of the comparing step, the identifier for the specified function is located (430, Yes) in the set of identifiers for known functions: disregarding the implementation of the specified function included in the forwarding rule and implementing the forwarding rule using the specified function on the electronic device using the predetermined implementation prescribed by the electronic device; comparing the identifier for the specified function to a set of identifiers for known functions, the known functions having predetermined implementations that are prescribed by the electronic device; if, as a result of the comparing step, the identifier for the specified function is located (430, Yes) in the set of identifiers for known functions: disregarding the implementation of the specified function included in the forwarding rule and implementing the forwarding rule using the specified function on the electronic device using the predetermined implementation prescribed by the electronic device; if, as the result of the comparing step, the identifier for the specified function is not located (430, No) in the set of identifiers for known functions or if the overridable flag in the forwarding rule indicates that the specified function may not be overridden (415, No), executing the following: retrieving the implementation of the specified function from the forwarding rule; and implementing the forwarding rule on the electronic device using the specified function and the retrieved implementation. retrieving the implementation of the specified function from the forwarding rule; and implementing the forwarding rule on the electronic device using the specified function and the retrieved implementation.