1. A method in a processor in a data processing system for selectively performing operations on data, the method comprising: identifying an operation to be performed on data to form an identified operation; determining whether metadata identifying a state of the data is associated with the data; responsive to the metadata being associated with the data, determining whether the identified operation can be performed on the data based on the state of the data; and performing the operation on the data if the state allows for the operation to be performed, wherein the processor selectively performs the operations based on the state of the data.