System and method for utilizing instruction attributes to detect data hazards

1. Field of the Invention A computer system utilizing a processing system capable of efficiently comparing register identifiers and instruction attribute data to detect data hazards between instructions of a computer program is used to execute the computer program. The processing system utilizes at least one pipeline, a first decoder, a second decoder, and comparison logic. The pipeline receives and simultaneously processes instructions of a computer program. The first and second decoders are coupled to the pipeline and decode register identifiers associated with instructions being processed by the pipeline. The comparison logic is interfaced with the first and second decoders and receives the decoded register identifiers along with attribute data indicating the status and/or type of instructions being processed by the pipeline. The comparison logic compares the decoded register identifiers and the attribute data to other decoded register identifiers and attribute data to detect data hazards.