A method for data stream identification includes receiving a data stream from a data source and executing a first transform on the data stream to determine if the data stream comprises a first characteristic associated with the first transform. The first transform is part of a transform tree comprising a plurality of transforms arranged in a hierarchy. The method includes executing one or more additional transforms to determine if the data stream comprises one or more additional characteristics associated with the one or more additional transforms and computing an efficiency level associated with the execution of each transform. The method also includes identifying a path through the transform tree wherein the computed efficiency level of each transform in the path is above a threshold value to determine characteristics of the data stream.