A method and system for managing attributes in a streaming application is disclosed. The system may contain a receiving stream operator that is communicatively coupled with a stream manager. The receiving stream operator may have a capability of storing a selected attribute and creating one or more unique identifiers. The system may contain a cache communicatively coupled with one or more stream operators. The cache may have a capability of storing the selected attributes. The system may also have a retrieving stream operator communicatively coupled with the stream manager. The retrieving stream operator may have a capability of using the unique identifier to access the selected attribute.