Processors with toggleable memory tagging extensions and related methods

A method in a processing circuit configured to couple to a memory circuit, the method comprising:

• in response to a first instruction to store first data to a first memory address in the memory circuit:
• in response to a mode indicator indicating the processing circuit in a first mode:
• reading, from the memory circuit, first tag bits associated with the first memory address;
• determining, based on the first tag bits, whether to store the first data to the first memory address;
• and
• storing the first data to the first memory address based on the determining;
• and
• in response to the mode indicator indicating the processing circuit in a second mode:
• storing the first data to the first memory address without reading from the memory circuit,
• wherein the first tag bits associated with the first memory address are stored in a same cache line as the first data.

A processor-based system comprising:

• a memory circuit;
• and
• a processing circuit comprising:
• a mode indicator indicating the processing circuit in one of a first mode and a second mode;
• an execution circuit;
• and
• a load/store circuit;
• wherein:
• in response to a first instruction to store first data to a first memory address in the memory circuit, the execution circuit is configured to control the load/store circuit to:
• in response to the mode indicator indicating the processing circuit in the first mode:
• read, from the memory circuit, first tag bits associated with the first memory address;
• determine, based on the first tag bits, whether to store the first data to the first memory address;
• and
• store the first data to the first memory address based on the determination;
• and
• in response to the mode indicator indicating the processing circuit in the second mode:
• store the first data to the first memory address without reading from the memory circuit;
• and
• the first tag bits associated with the first memory address are stored in a same cache line as the first data.