1. A method for decompressing a plurality of variable-length instructions, said method comprising: receiving a data stream which includes a first instruction of said plurality of variable-length instructions, wherein said first instruction is executable to perform a first operation and includes one or more header-body pairs, wherein each of said one or more header-body pairs includes a fixed-length header portion followed in said data stream by a variable-length body portion; decompressing a first header-body pair which includes a first header portion followed in said data stream by a first body portion, wherein said first header portion and said first body portion include a first data portion having one or more data values usable for performing said first operation, wherein said decompressing said first header-body pair includes: accessing said first header portion from said data stream by selecting a predetermined number of bits, wherein said first header portion includes sufficient information to determine a length value of said first body portion; determining said length value of said first body portion from said first header portion; accessing said first body portion from said data stream by selecting a number of bits equal to said length value of said first body portion; utilizing said one or more data values in said first data portion in order to perform said first operation.