The invention discloses a network flow index retrieving and compressing method based on an inverted list in the crossing field of computer networks and big data analysis. The network flow index retrieving and compressing method is used for solving the problems existing in network flow index retrieving and compressing research at present. The method includes the concrete steps that firstly, an index is set up through IP offset addresses, concretely, digits are converted into a dictionary, and then an inverted index is set up through the IP offset dictionary; secondly, data in the inverted list are compressed, and compression algorithms include the simple9 algorithm, the carryover-12 algorithm and the pfordelta algorithm; thirdly, decompression and retrieve are carried out, concretely, corresponding decoders are selected according to the different compression algorithms and decode compression units, and decoded digits are converted into a special data structure such as the inverted index and the dictionary; finally, information of all flow packages is obtained according to the inverted index. The network flow index retrieving and compressing method has the advantages that an efficient index technology and an index compressing technology are effectively realized, and massive network flow data can be retrieved effectively.