A method for executing a load instruction for loading data from an adapter, comprising the steps of: obtaining a machine instruction for execution, the machine instruction being defined for computer execution according to a computer architecture, the machine instruction comprising: an opcode field identifying a load from adapter instruction; a first field identifying a first location at which data fetched from an adapter will be loaded; a second field identifying a second location, the contents of which include a function handle identifying the adapter, a designation of an address space within the adapter from which data is to be loaded, and an offset within the address space; and executing the machine instruction, the executing comprising: using the function handle to obtain a function table entry associated with the adapter; obtaining a data address of the adapter using at least one of information in the function table entry and the offset; and fetching data from a specific location in the address space identified by the designation of the address space, the specific location identified by the data address of the adapter. obtaining a machine instruction for execution, the machine instruction being defined for computer execution according to a computer architecture, the machine instruction comprising: an opcode field identifying a load from adapter instruction; a first field identifying a first location at which data fetched from an adapter will be loaded; a second field identifying a second location, the contents of which include a function handle identifying the adapter, a designation of an address space within the adapter from which data is to be loaded, and an offset within the address space; and executing the machine instruction, the executing comprising: using the function handle to obtain a function table entry associated with the adapter; obtaining a data address of the adapter using at least one of information in the function table entry and the offset; and fetching data from a specific location in the address space identified by the designation of the address space, the specific location identified by the data address of the adapter. an opcode field identifying a load from adapter instruction; a first field identifying a first location at which data fetched from an adapter will be loaded; a second field identifying a second location, the contents of which include a function handle identifying the adapter, a designation of an address space within the adapter from which data is to be loaded, and an offset within the address space; and executing the machine instruction, the executing comprising: using the function handle to obtain a function table entry associated with the adapter; obtaining a data address of the adapter using at least one of information in the function table entry and the offset; and fetching data from a specific location in the address space identified by the designation of the address space, the specific location identified by the data address of the adapter. using the function handle to obtain a function table entry associated with the adapter; obtaining a data address of the adapter using at least one of information in the function table entry and the offset; and fetching data from a specific location in the address space identified by the designation of the address space, the specific location identified by the data address of the adapter.