One embodiment of the present invention sets for a method for accessing data objects stored in a memory that is accessible by a graphics processing unit (GPU). The method comprises the steps of creating a data object in the memory based on a command received from an application program, transmitting a first handle associated with the data object to the application program such that data associated with different graphics commands can be accessed by the GPU, wherein the first handle includes a memory address that provides access to only a particular portion of the data object, receiving a first graphics command as well as the first handle from the application program, wherein the first graphics command includes a draw command or a compute grid launch, and transmitting the first graphics command and the first handle to the GPU for processing.