1. A method comprising: receiving a definition for an extensible row descriptor and an update rule corresponding to a row in a database table, wherein the extensible row descriptor comprises meta-data about operations performed on the row, wherein the update rule specifies: a field in the row, information to be stored in the extensible row descriptor, and a condition for updating the extensible row descriptor, and wherein the extensible row descriptor and the update rule are incorporated into the table; using the update rule to determine whether executing a command necessitates updating the extensible row descriptor corresponding to the row; and responsive to executing the command necessitating updating the extensible row descriptor, updating the extensible row descriptor based on the update rule.