Memory state indicator check operations

A computer-implemented method, comprising:

• receiving an instruction at a processor to perform an operation that includes storing a specified data value in a memory block having an address, the memory block configured to store data therein;
• accessing a state indicator by the processor without altering a value of the state indicator, the state indicator stored in a memory location independent of the memory block, wherein accessing includes sending a request to an operator to return the value of the state indicator to the processor;
• determining based on the value of the state indicator whether the memory block is in one of a plurality of pre-defined states that includes data values stored in a repeating pattern in the memory block, the state indicator indicating that the memory block is in one of the plurality of pre-defined states without identifying contents of the repeating pattern;
• based on the memory block being in one of the plurality of pre-defined states:
• inspecting an initial portion of the data stored in the memory block to identify contents of the repeating pattern, the initial portion a subset of the data stored in the memory block;
• based on the contents of the repeating pattern being the same as the specified data value, not storing the specified data value to the memory block;
• and
• based on the repeating pattern not being the same as the specified data value, storing the specified data value to the memory block;
• and
• based on the memory block not being in the pre-defined state, storing the specified data value to the memory block.