A method of tracking data through a multi-tier computing architecture includes initializing a first row pointer of a dataset with data form a database, placing changes to the data in the second row pointer of the dataset, comparing the first and second row pointers, and declaring a state of the data in response to comparing the first and second row pointers. A system for tracking data through a multi-tier architecture includes an initialize module, a change module, a compare module, and a declare module. The initialize module initializes a first row pointer of a dataset with data from a database. The change module places changes to the data in a second row pointer of the dataset. The compare module compares the first and second row pointers. The declare module declares a state of the data in response to comparing the first and second row pointers.