A data forwarding control method performed by a first controller in a wireless local area network, wherein the method comprises: after receiving a first control request of a first access point, AP, obtaining, by the first controller, a network address of the first AP, wherein the first control request is used to request the first controller to manage the first AP; and sending, by the first controller, a network address of a first forwarding device to the first AP, instructing the first AP to send user data to the first forwarding device, sending the network address of the first AP and a predefined data forwarding rule to the first forwarding device, and instructing, by the first controller, the first forwarding device to forward the user data of the first AP according to the predefined data forwarding rule; wherein before the receiving the first control request of the first access point, AP, the method further comprises: receiving a discovery request of the first AP, wherein the discovery request comprises a list of neighboring APs of the first AP, and a frequency set of a channel of the first AP at least partially overlaps a frequency set of a channel of a neighboring AP of the first AP; and sending load information and a network address of the first controller to the first AP when a quantity of APs in an AP cluster controlled by the first controller does not exceed a first predefined quantity and/or when a neighboring AP of the first AP exists in the AP cluster controlled by the first controller; and the receiving the first control request of the first AP comprises: receiving the first control request, wherein the first control request is sent after the first AP receives the load information and the network address of the first controller. after receiving a first control request of a first access point, AP, obtaining, by the first controller, a network address of the first AP, wherein the first control request is used to request the first controller to manage the first AP; and sending, by the first controller, a network address of a first forwarding device to the first AP, instructing the first AP to send user data to the first forwarding device, sending the network address of the first AP and a predefined data forwarding rule to the first forwarding device, and instructing, by the first controller, the first forwarding device to forward the user data of the first AP according to the predefined data forwarding rule; wherein before the receiving the first control request of the first access point, AP, the method further comprises: receiving a discovery request of the first AP, wherein the discovery request comprises a list of neighboring APs of the first AP, and a frequency set of a channel of the first AP at least partially overlaps a frequency set of a channel of a neighboring AP of the first AP; and sending load information and a network address of the first controller to the first AP when a quantity of APs in an AP cluster controlled by the first controller does not exceed a first predefined quantity and/or when a neighboring AP of the first AP exists in the AP cluster controlled by the first controller; and the receiving the first control request of the first AP comprises: receiving the first control request, wherein the first control request is sent after the first AP receives the load information and the network address of the first controller. receiving a discovery request of the first AP, wherein the discovery request comprises a list of neighboring APs of the first AP, and a frequency set of a channel of the first AP at least partially overlaps a frequency set of a channel of a neighboring AP of the first AP; and sending load information and a network address of the first controller to the first AP when a quantity of APs in an AP cluster controlled by the first controller does not exceed a first predefined quantity and/or when a neighboring AP of the first AP exists in the AP cluster controlled by the first controller; and the receiving the first control request of the first AP comprises: receiving the first control request, wherein the first control request is sent after the first AP receives the load information and the network address of the first controller.