Efficient traversal of hierarchical datasets

In one embodiment, a method comprises receiving a request for a particular user identification (ID) to perform a particular operation on a particular data object. An entitlement cache associates each operation that the particular user ID is entitled to perform with a first encoding of a tuple of a plurality of tuples. An object mapping cache associates each tuple of the plurality of tuples with a second encoding of each tuple of the plurality of tuples. An object mapping is used to determine a first tuple. The object mapping cache is used to determine a first vector of one of more left values based on the first tuple. The entitlement cache is used to determine a second vector of one or more value pairs. In response to identifying a match between the first vector and the second vector, the particular user ID is granted access to the particular data object.