13. A computer program product for providing fast access to string-based message headers in network protocol messages, the computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer readable storage medium having computer-readable program code embodied therewith, the computer-readable program code configured to: convert header names into a canonical form comprising a plurality of canonical keys, wherein each canonical key represents one or more equivalent header names including alias forms, and wherein each canonical key has a string and an integer value; provide a mapping between the header names and the canonical keys; and enabling search for a header name using the canonical key by sequential search using integer comparison.
15. The computer program product as claimed in claim 13 , wherein the computer-readable program code is further configured to associate an integer value with a canonical key by using a memory address for a canonical header string as the integer value.