diff --git a/db/compaction/compaction_iterator.cc b/db/compaction/compaction_iterator.cc
index 102a3db59a9..6b0db5e066a 100644
--- a/db/compaction/compaction_iterator.cc
+++ b/db/compaction/compaction_iterator.cc
@@ -80,6 +80,15 @@ CompactionIterator::CompactionIterator(
       compaction_filter_(compaction_filter),
       shutting_down_(shutting_down),
       manual_compaction_canceled_(manual_compaction_canceled),
+      bottommost_level_(!compaction_ ? false
+                                     : compaction_->bottommost_level() &&
+                                           !compaction_->allow_ingest_behind()),
+      // snapshots_ cannot be nullptr, but we will assert later in the body of
+      // the constructor.
+      visible_at_tip_(snapshots_ ? snapshots_->empty() : false),
+      earliest_snapshot_(!snapshots_ || snapshots_->empty()
+                             ? kMaxSequenceNumber
+                             : snapshots_->at(0)),
       info_log_(info_log),
       allow_data_in_errors_(allow_data_in_errors),
       enforce_single_del_contracts_(enforce_single_del_contracts),
@@ -98,25 +107,10 @@ CompactionIterator::CompactionIterator(
       level_(compaction_ == nullptr ? 0 : compaction_->level()),
       penultimate_level_cutoff_seqno_(penultimate_level_cutoff_seqno) {
   assert(snapshots_ != nullptr);
-  bottommost_level_ = compaction_ == nullptr
-                          ? false
-                          : compaction_->bottommost_level() &&
-                                !compaction_->allow_ingest_behind();
+
   if (compaction_ != nullptr) {
     level_ptrs_ = std::vector<size_t>(compaction_->number_levels(), 0);
   }
-  if (snapshots_->size() == 0) {
-    // optimize for fast path if there are no snapshots
-    visible_at_tip_ = true;
-    earliest_snapshot_iter_ = snapshots_->end();
-    earliest_snapshot_ = kMaxSequenceNumber;
-    latest_snapshot_ = 0;
-  } else {
-    visible_at_tip_ = false;
-    earliest_snapshot_iter_ = snapshots_->begin();
-    earliest_snapshot_ = snapshots_->at(0);
-    latest_snapshot_ = snapshots_->back();
-  }
 #ifndef NDEBUG
   // findEarliestVisibleSnapshot assumes this ordering.
   for (size_t i = 1; i < snapshots_->size(); ++i) {
@@ -173,7 +167,7 @@ void CompactionIterator::Next() {
       current_key_.UpdateInternalKey(ikey_.sequence, ikey_.type);
       key_ = current_key_.GetInternalKey();
       ikey_.user_key = current_key_.GetUserKey();
-      valid_ = true;
+      validity_info_.SetValid(ValidContext::kMerge1);
     } else {
       // We consumed all pinned merge operands, release pinned iterators
       pinned_iters_mgr_.ReleasePinnedData();
@@ -191,7 +185,7 @@ void CompactionIterator::Next() {
     NextFromInput();
   }
 
-  if (valid_) {
+  if (Valid()) {
     // Record that we've outputted a record for the current key.
     has_outputted_key_ = true;
   }
@@ -237,7 +231,7 @@ bool CompactionIterator::InvokeFilterIfNeeded(bool* need_skip,
         if (compaction_ == nullptr) {
           status_ =
               Status::Corruption("Unexpected blob index outside of compaction");
-          valid_ = false;
+          validity_info_.Invalidate();
           return false;
         }
 
@@ -252,7 +246,7 @@ bool CompactionIterator::InvokeFilterIfNeeded(bool* need_skip,
         Status s = blob_index.DecodeFrom(value_);
         if (!s.ok()) {
           status_ = s;
-          valid_ = false;
+          validity_info_.Invalidate();
           return false;
         }
 
@@ -270,7 +264,7 @@ bool CompactionIterator::InvokeFilterIfNeeded(bool* need_skip,
                                      &bytes_read);
         if (!s.ok()) {
           status_ = s;
-          valid_ = false;
+          validity_info_.Invalidate();
           return false;
         }
 
@@ -294,7 +288,7 @@ bool CompactionIterator::InvokeFilterIfNeeded(bool* need_skip,
     // Should not reach here, since FilterV2 should never return kUndetermined.
     status_ =
         Status::NotSupported("FilterV2() should never return kUndetermined");
-    valid_ = false;
+    validity_info_.Invalidate();
     return false;
   }
 
@@ -343,7 +337,7 @@ bool CompactionIterator::InvokeFilterIfNeeded(bool* need_skip,
       status_ = Status::NotSupported(
           "Only stacked BlobDB's internal compaction filter can return "
           "kChangeBlobIndex.");
-      valid_ = false;
+      validity_info_.Invalidate();
       return false;
     }
     if (ikey_.type == kTypeValue) {
@@ -356,7 +350,7 @@ bool CompactionIterator::InvokeFilterIfNeeded(bool* need_skip,
     if (!compaction_filter_->IsStackedBlobDbInternalCompactionFilter()) {
       status_ = Status::NotSupported(
           "CompactionFilter for integrated BlobDB should not return kIOError");
-      valid_ = false;
+      validity_info_.Invalidate();
       return false;
     }
     status_ = Status::IOError("Failed to access blob during compaction filter");
@@ -367,9 +361,9 @@ bool CompactionIterator::InvokeFilterIfNeeded(bool* need_skip,
 
 void CompactionIterator::NextFromInput() {
   at_next_ = false;
-  valid_ = false;
+  validity_info_.Invalidate();
 
-  while (!valid_ && input_.Valid() && !IsPausingManualCompaction() &&
+  while (!Valid() && input_.Valid() && !IsPausingManualCompaction() &&
          !IsShuttingDown()) {
     key_ = input_.key();
     value_ = input_.value();
@@ -389,7 +383,7 @@ void CompactionIterator::NextFromInput() {
       has_current_user_key_ = false;
       current_user_key_sequence_ = kMaxSequenceNumber;
       current_user_key_snapshot_ = 0;
-      valid_ = true;
+      validity_info_.SetValid(ValidContext::kParseKeyError);
       break;
     }
     TEST_SYNC_POINT_CALLBACK("CompactionIterator:ProcessKV", &ikey_);
@@ -502,7 +496,7 @@ void CompactionIterator::NextFromInput() {
 
     if (UNLIKELY(!current_key_committed_)) {
       assert(snapshot_checker_ != nullptr);
-      valid_ = true;
+      validity_info_.SetValid(ValidContext::kCurrentKeyUncommitted);
       break;
     }
 
@@ -545,7 +539,7 @@ void CompactionIterator::NextFromInput() {
       }
 
       value_.clear();
-      valid_ = true;
+      validity_info_.SetValid(ValidContext::kKeepSDAndClearPut);
       clear_and_output_next_key_ = false;
     } else if (ikey_.type == kTypeSingleDeletion) {
       // We can compact out a SingleDelete if:
@@ -669,7 +663,7 @@ void CompactionIterator::NextFromInput() {
             ++iter_stats_.num_single_del_mismatch;
             if (enforce_single_del_contracts_) {
               ROCKS_LOG_ERROR(info_log_, "%s", oss.str().c_str());
-              valid_ = false;
+              validity_info_.Invalidate();
               status_ = Status::Corruption(oss.str());
               return;
             }
@@ -678,7 +672,7 @@ void CompactionIterator::NextFromInput() {
             // We cannot drop the SingleDelete as timestamp is enabled, and
             // timestamp of this key is greater than or equal to
             // *full_history_ts_low_. We will output the SingleDelete.
-            valid_ = true;
+            validity_info_.SetValid(ValidContext::kKeepTsHistory);
           } else if (has_outputted_key_ ||
                      DefinitelyInSnapshot(ikey_.sequence,
                                           earliest_write_conflict_snapshot_) ||
@@ -713,7 +707,7 @@ void CompactionIterator::NextFromInput() {
             // outputted on the next iteration.)
 
             // Setting valid_ to true will output the current SingleDelete
-            valid_ = true;
+            validity_info_.SetValid(ValidContext::kKeepSDForConflictCheck);
 
             // Set up the Put to be outputted in the next iteration.
             // (Optimization 3).
@@ -725,7 +719,7 @@ void CompactionIterator::NextFromInput() {
         } else {
           // We hit the next snapshot without hitting a put, so the iterator
           // returns the single delete.
-          valid_ = true;
+          validity_info_.SetValid(ValidContext::kKeepSDForSnapshot);
           TEST_SYNC_POINT_CALLBACK(
               "CompactionIterator::NextFromInput:SingleDelete:3",
               const_cast<Compaction*>(c));
@@ -758,11 +752,11 @@ void CompactionIterator::NextFromInput() {
           assert(bottommost_level_);
         } else {
           // Output SingleDelete
-          valid_ = true;
+          validity_info_.SetValid(ValidContext::kKeepSD);
         }
       }
 
-      if (valid_) {
+      if (Valid()) {
         at_next_ = true;
       }
     } else if (last_snapshot == current_user_key_snapshot_ ||
@@ -861,7 +855,7 @@ void CompactionIterator::NextFromInput() {
           (ParseInternalKey(input_.key(), &next_ikey, allow_data_in_errors_)
                .ok()) &&
           cmp_->EqualWithoutTimestamp(ikey_.user_key, next_ikey.user_key)) {
-        valid_ = true;
+        validity_info_.SetValid(ValidContext::kKeepDel);
         at_next_ = true;
       }
     } else if (ikey_.type == kTypeMerge) {
@@ -905,7 +899,7 @@ void CompactionIterator::NextFromInput() {
         current_key_.UpdateInternalKey(ikey_.sequence, ikey_.type);
         key_ = current_key_.GetInternalKey();
         ikey_.user_key = current_key_.GetUserKey();
-        valid_ = true;
+        validity_info_.SetValid(ValidContext::kMerge2);
       } else {
         // all merge operands were filtered out. reset the user key, since the
         // batch consumed by the merge operator should not shadow any keys
@@ -927,7 +921,7 @@ void CompactionIterator::NextFromInput() {
         ++iter_stats_.num_record_drop_range_del;
         AdvanceInputIter();
       } else {
-        valid_ = true;
+        validity_info_.SetValid(ValidContext::kNewUserKey);
       }
     }
 
@@ -936,7 +930,7 @@ void CompactionIterator::NextFromInput() {
     }
   }
 
-  if (!valid_ && IsShuttingDown()) {
+  if (!Valid() && IsShuttingDown()) {
     status_ = Status::ShutdownInProgress();
   }
 
@@ -955,7 +949,7 @@ bool CompactionIterator::ExtractLargeValueIfNeededImpl() {
 
   if (!s.ok()) {
     status_ = s;
-    valid_ = false;
+    validity_info_.Invalidate();
 
     return false;
   }
@@ -1000,7 +994,7 @@ void CompactionIterator::GarbageCollectBlobIfNeeded() {
 
       if (!s.ok()) {
         status_ = s;
-        valid_ = false;
+        validity_info_.Invalidate();
 
         return;
       }
@@ -1026,7 +1020,7 @@ void CompactionIterator::GarbageCollectBlobIfNeeded() {
 
       if (!s.ok()) {
         status_ = s;
-        valid_ = false;
+        validity_info_.Invalidate();
 
         return;
       }
@@ -1059,14 +1053,14 @@ void CompactionIterator::GarbageCollectBlobIfNeeded() {
     if (blob_decision == CompactionFilter::BlobDecision::kCorruption) {
       status_ =
           Status::Corruption("Corrupted blob reference encountered during GC");
-      valid_ = false;
+      validity_info_.Invalidate();
 
       return;
     }
 
     if (blob_decision == CompactionFilter::BlobDecision::kIOError) {
       status_ = Status::IOError("Could not relocate blob during GC");
-      valid_ = false;
+      validity_info_.Invalidate();
 
       return;
     }
@@ -1126,7 +1120,7 @@ void CompactionIterator::DecideOutputLevel() {
 }
 
 void CompactionIterator::PrepareOutput() {
-  if (valid_) {
+  if (Valid()) {
     if (ikey_.type == kTypeValue) {
       ExtractLargeValueIfNeeded();
     } else if (ikey_.type == kTypeBlobIndex) {
@@ -1148,7 +1142,7 @@ void CompactionIterator::PrepareOutput() {
     //
     // Can we do the same for levels above bottom level as long as
     // KeyNotExistsBeyondOutputLevel() return true?
-    if (valid_ && compaction_ != nullptr &&
+    if (Valid() && compaction_ != nullptr &&
         !compaction_->allow_ingest_behind() && bottommost_level_ &&
         DefinitelyInSnapshot(ikey_.sequence, earliest_snapshot_) &&
         ikey_.type != kTypeMerge && current_key_committed_ &&
@@ -1162,13 +1156,14 @@ void CompactionIterator::PrepareOutput() {
             "earliest_snapshot %" PRIu64
             ", earliest_write_conflict_snapshot %" PRIu64
             " job_snapshot %" PRIu64
-            ". timestamp_size: %d full_history_ts_low_ %s",
+            ". timestamp_size: %d full_history_ts_low_ %s. validity %x",
             ikey_.DebugString(allow_data_in_errors_, true).c_str(),
             earliest_snapshot_, earliest_write_conflict_snapshot_,
             job_snapshot_, static_cast<int>(timestamp_size_),
             full_history_ts_low_ != nullptr
                 ? Slice(*full_history_ts_low_).ToString(true).c_str()
-                : "null");
+                : "null",
+            validity_info_.rep);
         assert(false);
       }
       ikey_.sequence = 0;
diff --git a/db/compaction/compaction_iterator.h b/db/compaction/compaction_iterator.h
index a94b0a8f3a5..c337f76e03a 100644
--- a/db/compaction/compaction_iterator.h
+++ b/db/compaction/compaction_iterator.h
@@ -235,7 +235,7 @@ class CompactionIterator {
   const Slice& value() const { return value_; }
   const Status& status() const { return status_; }
   const ParsedInternalKey& ikey() const { return ikey_; }
-  bool Valid() const { return valid_; }
+  inline bool Valid() const { return validity_info_.IsValid(); }
   const Slice& user_key() const { return current_user_key_; }
   const CompactionIterationStats& iter_stats() const { return iter_stats_; }
   uint64_t num_input_entry_scanned() const { return input_.num_itered(); }
@@ -332,29 +332,26 @@ class CompactionIterator {
   // earliest visible snapshot of an older value.
   // See WritePreparedTransactionTest::ReleaseSnapshotDuringCompaction3.
   std::unordered_set<SequenceNumber> released_snapshots_;
-  std::vector<SequenceNumber>::const_iterator earliest_snapshot_iter_;
   const SequenceNumber earliest_write_conflict_snapshot_;
   const SequenceNumber job_snapshot_;
   const SnapshotChecker* const snapshot_checker_;
   Env* env_;
   SystemClock* clock_;
-  bool report_detailed_time_;
-  bool expect_valid_internal_key_;
+  const bool report_detailed_time_;
+  const bool expect_valid_internal_key_;
   CompactionRangeDelAggregator* range_del_agg_;
   BlobFileBuilder* blob_file_builder_;
   std::unique_ptr<CompactionProxy> compaction_;
   const CompactionFilter* compaction_filter_;
   const std::atomic<bool>* shutting_down_;
   const std::atomic<bool>& manual_compaction_canceled_;
-  bool bottommost_level_;
-  bool valid_ = false;
-  bool visible_at_tip_;
-  SequenceNumber earliest_snapshot_;
-  SequenceNumber latest_snapshot_;
+  const bool bottommost_level_;
+  const bool visible_at_tip_;
+  const SequenceNumber earliest_snapshot_;
 
   std::shared_ptr<Logger> info_log_;
 
-  bool allow_data_in_errors_;
+  const bool allow_data_in_errors_;
 
   const bool enforce_single_del_contracts_;
 
@@ -370,8 +367,33 @@ class CompactionIterator {
 
   // State
   //
+  enum ValidContext : uint8_t {
+    kMerge1 = 0,
+    kMerge2 = 1,
+    kParseKeyError = 2,
+    kCurrentKeyUncommitted = 3,
+    kKeepSDAndClearPut = 4,
+    kKeepTsHistory = 5,
+    kKeepSDForConflictCheck = 6,
+    kKeepSDForSnapshot = 7,
+    kKeepSD = 8,
+    kKeepDel = 9,
+    kNewUserKey = 10,
+  };
+
+  struct ValidityInfo {
+    inline bool IsValid() const { return rep & 1; }
+    ValidContext GetContext() const {
+      return static_cast<ValidContext>(rep >> 1);
+    }
+    inline void SetValid(uint8_t ctx) { rep = (ctx << 1) | 1; }
+    inline void Invalidate() { rep = 0; }
+
+    uint8_t rep{0};
+  } validity_info_;
+
   // Points to a copy of the current compaction iterator output (current_key_)
-  // if valid_.
+  // if valid.
   Slice key_;
   // Points to the value in the underlying iterator that corresponds to the
   // current output.