A system can include a splitter configured to receive a first optical signal carrying first data and generate a first optical signal copy and second optical signal copy. Also included is at least one optical processing path includes at least one optical encoder configured to transform the first optical signal copy into a second optical signal carrying the first data and an additional optical feature not present in the first optical signal, at least one optical modulator configured to optically modulate the second optical signal according to a compare data to generate an optical match signal that indicates matches between the compare data and the first data, and at least one photodetector configured to generate an electrical match signal in response to the optical match signal. Corresponding methods are also disclosed.