diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 8a231a5..e3df353 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -415,15 +415,10 @@ GET /posts?include=author&fields[posts]=title,excerpt&fields[users]=name
         "author": {
           "data": {
             "type": "users",
-            "id": "74812",
-            "meta": {}
-          },
-          "meta": {},
-          "links": {}
+            "id": "74812"
+          }
         }
-      },
-      "meta": {},
-      "links": {}
+      }
     },
     {
       "id": "39974",
@@ -436,15 +431,10 @@ GET /posts?include=author&fields[posts]=title,excerpt&fields[users]=name
         "author": {
           "data": {
             "type": "users",
-            "id": "74812",
-            "meta": {}
-          },
-          "meta": {},
-          "links": {}
+            "id": "74812"
+          }
         }
-      },
-      "meta": {},
-      "links": {}
+      }
     }
   ],
   "included": [
@@ -453,10 +443,7 @@ GET /posts?include=author&fields[posts]=title,excerpt&fields[users]=name
       "id": "74812",
       "attributes": {
         "name": "Tim"
-      },
-      "relationships": {},
-      "meta": {},
-      "links": {}
+      }
     }
   ]
 }
diff --git a/src/JsonApiResource.php b/src/JsonApiResource.php
index 9f5031d..ef7e784 100644
--- a/src/JsonApiResource.php
+++ b/src/JsonApiResource.php
@@ -118,17 +118,19 @@ public function toResourceIdentifier(Request $request)
      * @api
      *
      * @param Request $request
-     * @return array{id: string, type: string, attributes: stdClass, relationships: stdClass, meta: stdClass, links: stdClass}
+     * @return array{id: string, type: string, attributes?: stdClass, relationships?: stdClass, meta?: stdClass, links?: stdClass}
      */
     public function toArray($request)
     {
         return [
             'id' => $this->resolveId($request),
             'type' => $this->resolveType($request),
-            'attributes' => (object) $this->requestedAttributes($request)->all(),
-            'relationships' => (object) $this->requestedRelationshipsAsIdentifiers($request)->all(),
-            'meta' => (object) array_merge($this->toMeta($request), $this->meta),
-            'links' => (object) self::parseLinks(array_merge($this->toLinks($request), $this->links)),
+            ...Collection::make([
+                'attributes' => $this->requestedAttributes($request)->all(),
+                'relationships' => $this->requestedRelationshipsAsIdentifiers($request)->all(),
+                'links' => self::parseLinks(array_merge($this->toLinks($request), $this->links)),
+                'meta' => array_merge($this->toMeta($request), $this->meta),
+            ])->filter()->map(fn ($value) => (object) $value)->all(),
         ];
     }
 
@@ -141,9 +143,10 @@ public function toArray($request)
     public function with($request)
     {
         return [
-            'included' => $this->included($request)
+            ...$included = $this->included($request)
                 ->uniqueStrict(fn (JsonApiResource $resource): string => $resource->toUniqueResourceIdentifier($request))
-                ->values(),
+                ->values()
+                ->all() ? ['included' => $included] : [],
             'jsonapi' => self::serverImplementationResolver()($request),
         ];
     }
diff --git a/src/JsonApiServerImplementation.php b/src/JsonApiServerImplementation.php
index c571c84..5f12115 100644
--- a/src/JsonApiServerImplementation.php
+++ b/src/JsonApiServerImplementation.php
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ public function jsonSerialize(): array
     {
         return [
             'version' => $this->version,
-            'meta' => (object) $this->meta,
+            ...$this->meta ? ['meta' => (object) $this->meta] : [],
         ];
     }
 }
diff --git a/src/Link.php b/src/Link.php
index 15ec8b2..ebb842c 100644
--- a/src/Link.php
+++ b/src/Link.php
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@ public function jsonSerialize(): array
     {
         return [
             'href' => $this->href,
-            'meta' => (object) $this->meta,
+            ...$this->meta ? ['meta' => (object) $this->meta] : [],
         ];
     }
 }
diff --git a/src/RelationshipObject.php b/src/RelationshipObject.php
index ecb336a..2c148bd 100644
--- a/src/RelationshipObject.php
+++ b/src/RelationshipObject.php
@@ -70,8 +70,8 @@ public function jsonSerialize(): array
     {
         return [
             'data' => $this->data,
-            'meta' => (object) $this->meta,
-            'links' => (object) self::parseLinks($this->links),
+            ...$this->meta ? ['meta' => (object) $this->meta] : [],
+            ...$this->links ? ['links' => (object) self::parseLinks($this->links)] : [],
         ];
     }
 }
diff --git a/src/ResourceIdentifier.php b/src/ResourceIdentifier.php
index 67b1908..f2bd148 100644
--- a/src/ResourceIdentifier.php
+++ b/src/ResourceIdentifier.php
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ public function jsonSerialize(): array
         return [
             'type' => $this->type,
             'id' => $this->id,
-            'meta' => (object) $this->meta,
+            ...$this->meta ? ['meta' => (object) $this->meta] : [],
         ];
     }
 }
diff --git a/tests/Feature/AttributesTest.php b/tests/Feature/AttributesTest.php
index 12d1713..46e88c4 100644
--- a/tests/Feature/AttributesTest.php
+++ b/tests/Feature/AttributesTest.php
@@ -41,13 +41,9 @@ public function toAttributes($request): array
                     'name' => 'Tim',
                     'email' => 'tim@example.com',
                 ],
-                'relationships' => [],
-                'meta' => [],
-                'links' => [],
             ],
             'jsonapi' => [
                 'version' => '1.0',
-                'meta' => [],
             ],
             'included' => [],
         ]);
@@ -84,13 +80,9 @@ public function toAttributes($request): array
                     'name' => 'Tim',
                     'location' => 'Melbourne',
                 ],
-                'relationships' => [],
-                'links' => [],
-                'meta' => [],
             ],
             'jsonapi' => [
                 'version' => '1.0',
-                'meta' => [],
             ],
             'included' => [],
         ]);
@@ -123,14 +115,9 @@ public function toAttributes($request): array
             'data' => [
                 'id' => 'expected-id',
                 'type' => 'basicModels',
-                'attributes' => [],
-                'relationships' => [],
-                'meta' => [],
-                'links' => [],
             ],
             'jsonapi' => [
                 'version' => '1.0',
-                'meta' => [],
             ],
             'included' => [],
         ]);
@@ -162,13 +149,9 @@ public function toAttributes($request): array
                 'attributes' => [
                     'location' => 'Melbourne',
                 ],
-                'relationships' => [],
-                'links' => [],
-                'meta' => [],
             ],
             'jsonapi' => [
                 'version' => '1.0',
-                'meta' => [],
             ],
             'included' => [],
         ]);
@@ -196,14 +179,9 @@ public function toAttributes($request): array
             'data' => [
                 'id' => 'expected-id',
                 'type' => 'basicModels',
-                'attributes' => [],
-                'relationships' => [],
-                'links' => [],
-                'meta' => [],
             ],
             'jsonapi' => [
                 'version' => '1.0',
-                'meta' => [],
             ],
             'included' => [],
         ]);
@@ -252,14 +230,9 @@ public function testItCanSpecifyMinimalAttributes(): void
                 'data' => [
                     'type' => 'basicModels',
                     'id' => 'user-id',
-                    'attributes' => [],
-                    'relationships' => [],
-                    'meta' => [],
-                    'links' => [],
                 ],
                 'jsonapi' => [
                     'version' => '1.0',
-                    'meta' => [],
                 ],
                 'included' => [],
             ]);
@@ -287,13 +260,9 @@ public function testItCanRequestAttributesWhenUsingMinimalAttributes()
                     'attributes' => [
                         'name' => 'user-name',
                     ],
-                    'relationships' => [],
-                    'meta' => [],
-                    'links' => [],
                 ],
                 'jsonapi' => [
                     'version' => '1.0',
-                    'meta' => [],
                 ],
                 'included' => [],
             ]);
@@ -327,31 +296,23 @@ public function testItCanUseSparseFieldsetsWithIncludedCollections(): void
             'data' => [
                 'id' => 'user-id',
                 'type' => 'basicModels',
-                'attributes' =>  [],
                 'relationships' => [
                     'posts' => [
                         'data' => [
                             [
                                 'id' => 'post-id-1',
-                                'meta' => [],
                                 'type' => 'basicModels',
                             ],
                             [
                                 'id' => 'post-id-2',
-                                'meta' => [],
                                 'type' => 'basicModels',
                             ],
                         ],
-                        'links' => [],
-                        'meta' => [],
                     ],
                 ],
-                'meta' => [],
-                'links' => [],
             ],
             'jsonapi' => [
                 'version' => '1.0',
-                'meta' => [],
             ],
             'included' => [
                 [
@@ -360,9 +321,6 @@ public function testItCanUseSparseFieldsetsWithIncludedCollections(): void
                     'attributes' => [
                         'title' => 'post-title-1',
                     ],
-                    'relationships' => [],
-                    'links' => [],
-                    'meta' => [],
                 ],
                 [
                     'id' => 'post-id-2',
@@ -370,9 +328,6 @@ public function testItCanUseSparseFieldsetsWithIncludedCollections(): void
                     'attributes' => [
                         'title' => 'post-title-2',
                     ],
-                    'relationships' => [],
-                    'links' => [],
-                    'meta' => [],
                 ],
             ],
         ]);
@@ -408,13 +363,9 @@ public function toAttributes($request): array
                 'attributes' => [
                     'email' => 'tim@example.com',
                 ],
-                'relationships' => [],
-                'meta' => [],
-                'links' => [],
             ],
             'jsonapi' => [
                 'version' => '1.0',
-                'meta' => [],
             ],
             'included' => [],
         ]);
@@ -452,13 +403,9 @@ public function toAttributes($request): array
                     'email' => 'tim@example.com',
                     'address' => '123 fake street',
                 ],
-                'relationships' => [],
-                'meta' => [],
-                'links' => [],
             ],
             'jsonapi' => [
                 'version' => '1.0',
-                'meta' => [],
             ],
             'included' => [],
         ]);
@@ -497,13 +444,9 @@ public function toAttributes($request): array
                     'email' => 'tim@example.com',
                     'address' => '123 fake street',
                 ],
-                'relationships' => [],
-                'meta' => [],
-                'links' => [],
             ],
             'jsonapi' => [
                 'version' => '1.0',
-                'meta' => [],
             ],
             'included' => [],
         ]);
diff --git a/tests/Feature/FeatureTest.php b/tests/Feature/FeatureTest.php
index 218c1d2..230479b 100644
--- a/tests/Feature/FeatureTest.php
+++ b/tests/Feature/FeatureTest.php
@@ -42,9 +42,6 @@ public function testItCanPaginate(): void
                     'attributes' => [
                         'name' => 'name-0',
                     ],
-                    'relationships' => [],
-                    'links' => [],
-                    'meta' => [],
                 ],
                 [
                     'id' => '2',
@@ -52,9 +49,6 @@ public function testItCanPaginate(): void
                     'attributes' => [
                         'name' => 'name-1',
                     ],
-                    'relationships' => [],
-                    'links' => [],
-                    'meta' => [],
                 ],
             ],
             'included' => [],
@@ -100,7 +94,6 @@ public function testItCanPaginate(): void
                 ],
             ],
             'jsonapi' => [
-                'meta' => [],
                 'version' => '1.0',
             ],
         ]);
diff --git a/tests/Feature/JsonApiTest.php b/tests/Feature/JsonApiTest.php
index 698d8ae..823e17c 100644
--- a/tests/Feature/JsonApiTest.php
+++ b/tests/Feature/JsonApiTest.php
@@ -36,14 +36,10 @@ public function testItCanReturnASingleResource(): void
                 'attributes' => [
                     'name' => 'user-name',
                 ],
-                'relationships' => [],
-                'meta' => [],
-                'links' => [],
             ],
             'included' => [],
             'jsonapi' => [
                 'version' => '1.0',
-                'meta' => [],
             ],
         ]);
         $this->assertValidJsonApi($response);
@@ -74,9 +70,6 @@ public function testItCanReturnACollection(): void
                     'attributes' => [
                         'name' => 'user-name-1',
                     ],
-                    'relationships' => [],
-                    'meta' => [],
-                    'links' => [],
                 ],
                 [
                     'id' => 'user-id-2',
@@ -84,27 +77,26 @@ public function testItCanReturnACollection(): void
                     'attributes' => [
                         'name' => 'user-name-2',
                     ],
-                    'relationships' => [],
-                    'meta' => [],
-                    'links' => [],
                 ],
             ],
             'included' => [],
             'jsonapi' => [
                 'version' => '1.0',
-                'meta' => [],
             ],
         ]);
         $this->assertValidJsonApi($response);
     }
 
-    public function testItCastsEmptyAttributesAndRelationshipsToAnObject(): void
+    public function testItExcludesEmptyAttributesAndRelationships(): void
     {
         Route::get('test-route', fn () => UserResource::make((new BasicModel(['id' => 'user-id']))));
 
         $response = $this->getJson('test-route?fields[basicModels]=');
 
-        self::assertStringContainsString('"attributes":{},"relationships":{},"meta":{},"links":{}', $response->content());
+        self::assertStringNotContainsString('"attributes"', $response->content());
+        self::assertStringNotContainsString('"relationships"', $response->content());
+        self::assertStringNotContainsString('"meta"', $response->content());
+        self::assertStringNotContainsString('"links"', $response->content());
         $this->assertValidJsonApi($response);
     }
 
@@ -126,17 +118,13 @@ public function toMeta($request): array
             'data' => [
                 'id' => 'expected-id',
                 'type' => 'basicModels',
-                'attributes' => [],
-                'relationships' => [],
                 'meta' => [
                     'meta-key' => 'meta-value',
                 ],
-                'links' => [],
             ],
             'included' => [],
             'jsonapi' => [
                 'version' => '1.0',
-                'meta' => [],
             ],
         ]);
         $this->assertValidJsonApi($response);
@@ -164,9 +152,6 @@ public function toLinks($request): array
             'data' => [
                 'id' => 'expected-id',
                 'type' => 'basicModels',
-                'attributes' => [],
-                'relationships' => [],
-                'meta' => [],
                 'links' => [
                     'self' => [
                         'href' => 'https://example.test/self',
@@ -176,18 +161,15 @@ public function toLinks($request): array
                     ],
                     'related' => [
                         'href' => 'https://example.test/related',
-                        'meta' => [],
                     ],
                     'home' => [
                         'href' => 'https://example.test',
-                        'meta' => [],
                     ],
                 ],
             ],
             'included' => [],
             'jsonapi' => [
                 'version' => '1.0',
-                'meta' => [],
             ],
         ]);
         $this->assertValidJsonApi($response);
@@ -224,15 +206,10 @@ public function testItCanCustomiseTheTypeResolution(): void
             'data' => [
                 'id' => 'expected-id',
                 'type' => 'Tests\\Models\\BasicModel',
-                'relationships' => [],
-                'attributes' => [],
-                'meta' => [],
-                'links' => [],
             ],
             'included' => [],
             'jsonapi' => [
                 'version' => '1.0',
-                'meta' => [],
             ],
         ]);
         $this->assertValidJsonApi($response);
@@ -251,15 +228,10 @@ public function testItCanCustomiseTheIdResolution(): void
             'data' => [
                 'id' => 'expected-id',
                 'type' => 'basicModels',
-                'relationships' => [],
-                'attributes' => [],
-                'meta' => [],
-                'links' => [],
             ],
             'included' => [],
             'jsonapi' => [
                 'version' => '1.0',
-                'meta' => [],
             ],
         ]);
         $this->assertValidJsonApi($response);
@@ -267,31 +239,31 @@ public function testItCanCustomiseTheIdResolution(): void
         JsonApiResource::resolveIdNormally();
     }
 
-    public function testItCastsEmptyResourceIdentifierMetaToObject(): void
+    public function testItExcludesEmptyResourceIdentifierMeta(): void
     {
         $relationship = new ResourceIdentifier('users', '5');
 
         $json = json_encode($relationship);
 
-        self::assertSame('{"type":"users","id":"5","meta":{}}', $json);
+        self::assertSame('{"type":"users","id":"5"}', $json);
     }
 
-    public function testItCastsEmptyLinksMetaToObject(): void
+    public function testItExcludesEmptyLinksMeta(): void
     {
         $link = Link::self('https://timacdonald.me', []);
 
         $json = json_encode($link);
 
-        self::assertSame('{"href":"https:\/\/timacdonald.me","meta":{}}', $json);
+        self::assertSame('{"href":"https:\/\/timacdonald.me"}', $json);
     }
 
-    public function testItCastsEmptyImplementationMetaToObject(): void
+    public function testItExcludesEmptyImplementationMeta(): void
     {
         $implementation = new JsonApiServerImplementation('1.5', []);
 
         $json = json_encode($implementation);
 
-        self::assertSame('{"version":"1.5","meta":{}}', $json);
+        self::assertSame('{"version":"1.5"}', $json);
     }
 
     public function testItCanSpecifyAnImplementation(): void
@@ -315,9 +287,6 @@ public function testItCanSpecifyAnImplementation(): void
                 'attributes' => [
                     'name' => 'user-name',
                 ],
-                'relationships' => [],
-                'meta' => [],
-                'links' => [],
             ],
             'included' => [],
             'jsonapi' => [
@@ -332,7 +301,7 @@ public function testItCanSpecifyAnImplementation(): void
         BasicJsonApiResource::resolveServerImplementationNormally();
     }
 
-    public function testItCastsEmptyRelationshipLinkMetaToJsonObject()
+    public function testItExcludesEmptyRelationshipLinkMeta()
     {
         $resourceLink = RelationshipObject::toOne(
             new ResourceIdentifier('expected-type', 'expected-id')
@@ -340,7 +309,7 @@ public function testItCastsEmptyRelationshipLinkMetaToJsonObject()
 
         $json = json_encode($resourceLink);
 
-        self::assertSame('{"data":{"type":"expected-type","id":"expected-id","meta":{}},"meta":{},"links":{}}', $json);
+        self::assertSame('{"data":{"type":"expected-type","id":"expected-id"}}', $json);
     }
 
     public function testItCanPopulateAllTheMetasAndAllTheLinks()
@@ -581,7 +550,6 @@ public static function collection($resource): JsonApiResourceCollection
             'data' => [
                 'id' => 'user-id',
                 'type' => 'basicModels',
-                'attributes' => [],
                 'relationships' => [
                     'profile' => [
                         'data' => null,
@@ -696,8 +664,6 @@ public static function collection($resource): JsonApiResourceCollection
                 [
                     'id' => 'avatar-id',
                     'type' => 'basicModels',
-                    'attributes' => [],
-                    'relationships' => [],
                     'meta' => [
                         'avatar-internal' => 'meta',
                         'avatar-external' => 'meta',
@@ -720,8 +686,6 @@ public static function collection($resource): JsonApiResourceCollection
                 [
                     'id' => 'post-id-1',
                     'type' => 'basicModels',
-                    'attributes' => [],
-                    'relationships' => [],
                     'meta' => [
                         'posts-internal' => 'meta',
                         'posts-internal-collection' => 'meta',
@@ -742,15 +706,12 @@ public static function collection($resource): JsonApiResourceCollection
                         ],
                         'external' => [
                             'href' => 'posts.com',
-                            'meta' => [],
                         ],
                     ],
                 ],
                 [
                     'id' => 'post-id-2',
                     'type' => 'basicModels',
-                    'attributes' => [],
-                    'relationships' => [],
                     'meta' => [
                         'posts-internal' => 'meta',
                         'posts-internal-collection' => 'meta',
@@ -771,7 +732,6 @@ public static function collection($resource): JsonApiResourceCollection
                         ],
                         'external' => [
                             'href' => 'posts.com',
-                            'meta' => [],
                         ],
                     ],
                 ],
diff --git a/tests/Feature/RelationshipsTest.php b/tests/Feature/RelationshipsTest.php
index d59b089..5976aa3 100644
--- a/tests/Feature/RelationshipsTest.php
+++ b/tests/Feature/RelationshipsTest.php
@@ -56,14 +56,10 @@ public function toRelationships($request): array
                     'title' => 'post-title',
                     'content' => 'post-content',
                 ],
-                'relationships' => [],
-                'links' => [],
-                'meta' => [],
             ],
             'included' => [],
             'jsonapi' => [
                 'version' => '1.0',
-                'meta' => [],
             ],
         ]);
         $this->assertValidJsonApi($response);
@@ -98,18 +94,12 @@ public function testItCanIncludeASingleToOneResourceForASingleResource(): void
                         'data' => [
                             'id' => 'author-id',
                             'type' => 'basicModels',
-                            'meta' => [],
                         ],
-                        'links' => [],
-                        'meta' => [],
                     ],
                 ],
-                'links' => [],
-                'meta' => [],
             ],
             'jsonapi' => [
                 'version' => '1.0',
-                'meta' => [],
             ],
             'included' => [
                 [
@@ -118,9 +108,6 @@ public function testItCanIncludeASingleToOneResourceForASingleResource(): void
                     'attributes' => [
                         'name' => 'author-name',
                     ],
-                    'relationships' => [],
-                    'links' => [],
-                    'meta' => [],
                 ],
             ],
         ]);
@@ -168,27 +155,18 @@ public function testItCanIncludeNestedToOneResourcesForASingleResource(): void
                         'data' => [
                             'id' => 'author-id',
                             'type' => 'basicModels',
-                            'meta' => [],
                         ],
-                        'links' => [],
-                        'meta' => [],
                     ],
                     'featureImage' => [
                         'data' => [
                             'id' => 'feature-image-id',
                             'type' => 'basicModels',
-                            'meta' => [],
                         ],
-                        'links' => [],
-                        'meta' => [],
                     ],
                 ],
-                'links' => [],
-                'meta' => [],
             ],
             'jsonapi' => [
                 'version' => '1.0',
-                'meta' => [],
             ],
             'included' => [
                 [
@@ -202,23 +180,15 @@ public function testItCanIncludeNestedToOneResourcesForASingleResource(): void
                             'data' => [
                                 'id' => 'avatar-id',
                                 'type' => 'basicModels',
-                                'meta' => [],
                             ],
-                            'links' => [],
-                            'meta' => [],
                         ],
                         'license' => [
                             'data' => [
                                 'id' => 'license-id',
                                 'type' => 'basicModels',
-                                'meta' => [],
                             ],
-                            'links' => [],
-                            'meta' => [],
                         ],
                     ],
-                    'links' => [],
-                    'meta' => [],
                 ],
                 [
                     'id' => 'feature-image-id',
@@ -226,9 +196,6 @@ public function testItCanIncludeNestedToOneResourcesForASingleResource(): void
                     'attributes' => [
                         'url' => 'https://example.com/doggo.png',
                     ],
-                    'relationships' => [],
-                    'links' => [],
-                    'meta' => [],
                 ],
                 [
                     'id' => 'license-id',
@@ -236,9 +203,6 @@ public function testItCanIncludeNestedToOneResourcesForASingleResource(): void
                     'attributes' => [
                         'key' => 'license-key',
                     ],
-                    'relationships' => [],
-                    'links' => [],
-                    'meta' => [],
                 ],
                 [
                     'id' => 'avatar-id',
@@ -246,9 +210,6 @@ public function testItCanIncludeNestedToOneResourcesForASingleResource(): void
                     'attributes' => [
                         'url' => 'https://example.com/avatar.png',
                     ],
-                    'relationships' => [],
-                    'links' => [],
-                    'meta' => [],
                 ],
             ],
         ]);
@@ -287,51 +248,34 @@ public function toRelationships($request): array
             'data' => [
                 'id' => 'parent-id',
                 'type' => 'basicModels',
-                'attributes' => [],
                 'relationships' => [
                     'child' => [
                         'data' => [
                             'id' => 'child-id-1',
                             'type' => 'basicModels',
-                            'meta' => [],
                         ],
-                        'links' => [],
-                        'meta' => [],
                     ],
                 ],
-                'links' => [],
-                'meta' => [],
             ],
             'jsonapi' => [
                 'version' => '1.0',
-                'meta' => [],
             ],
             'included' => [
                 [
                     'id' => 'child-id-1',
                     'type' => 'basicModels',
-                    'attributes' => [],
                     'relationships' => [
                         'child' => [
                             'data' => [
                                 'id' => 'child-id-2',
                                 'type' => 'basicModels',
-                                'meta' => [],
                             ],
-                            'links' => [],
-                            'meta' => [],
                         ],
                     ],
-                    'links' => [],
-                    'meta' => [],
                 ],
                 [
                     'id' => 'child-id-2',
                     'type' => 'basicModels',
-                    'attributes' => [],
-                    'relationships' => [],
-                    'links' => [],
-                    'meta' => [],
                 ],
             ],
         ]);
@@ -371,66 +315,44 @@ public function toRelationships($request): array
             'data' => [
                 'id' => 'parent-id',
                 'type' => 'basicModels',
-                'attributes' => [],
                 'relationships' => [
                     'child' => [
                         'data' => [
                             'id' => 'child-id-1',
                             'type' => 'basicModels',
-                            'meta' => [],
                         ],
-                        'links' => [],
-                        'meta' => [],
                     ],
                 ],
-                'meta' => [],
-                'links' => [],
             ],
             'jsonapi' => [
                 'version' => '1.0',
-                'meta' => [],
             ],
             'included' => [
                 [
                     'id' => 'child-id-1',
                     'type' => 'basicModels',
-                    'attributes' => [],
                     'relationships' => [
                         'child' => [
                             'data' => [
                                 [
                                     'id' => 'child-id-2',
                                     'type' => 'basicModels',
-                                    'meta' => [],
                                 ],
                                 [
                                     'id' => 'child-id-3',
                                     'type' => 'basicModels',
-                                    'meta' => [],
                                 ],
                             ],
-                            'links' => [],
-                            'meta' => [],
                         ],
                     ],
-                    'meta' => [],
-                    'links' => [],
                 ],
                 [
                     'id' => 'child-id-2',
                     'type' => 'basicModels',
-                    'attributes' => [],
-                    'relationships'=> [],
-                    'links' => [],
-                    'meta' => [],
                 ],
                 [
                     'id' => 'child-id-3',
                     'type' => 'basicModels',
-                    'attributes' => [],
-                    'relationships'=> [],
-                    'links' => [],
-                    'meta' => [],
                 ],
             ],
         ]);
@@ -476,14 +398,9 @@ public function testItCanIncludeToOneResourcesForACollectionOfResources(): void
                             'data' => [
                                 'id' => 'author-id-1',
                                 'type' => 'basicModels',
-                                'meta' => [],
                             ],
-                            'links' => [],
-                            'meta' => [],
                         ],
                     ],
-                    'meta' => [],
-                    'links' => [],
                 ],
                 [
                     'id' => 'post-id-2',
@@ -497,19 +414,13 @@ public function testItCanIncludeToOneResourcesForACollectionOfResources(): void
                             'data' => [
                                 'id' => 'author-id-2',
                                 'type' => 'basicModels',
-                                'meta' => [],
                             ],
-                            'links' => [],
-                            'meta' => [],
                         ],
                     ],
-                    'meta' => [],
-                    'links' => [],
                 ],
             ],
             'jsonapi' => [
                 'version' => '1.0',
-                'meta' => [],
             ],
             'included' => [
                 [
@@ -518,9 +429,6 @@ public function testItCanIncludeToOneResourcesForACollectionOfResources(): void
                     'attributes' => [
                         'name' => 'author-name-1',
                     ],
-                    'relationships' => [],
-                    'meta' => [],
-                    'links' => [],
                 ],
                 [
                     'id' => 'author-id-2',
@@ -528,9 +436,6 @@ public function testItCanIncludeToOneResourcesForACollectionOfResources(): void
                     'attributes' => [
                         'name' => 'author-name-2',
                     ],
-                    'relationships' => [],
-                    'meta' => [],
-                    'links' => [],
                 ],
             ],
         ]);
@@ -573,24 +478,17 @@ public function testItCanIncludeACollectionOfResourcesForASingleResource(): void
                             [
                                 'id' => 'post-id-1',
                                 'type' => 'basicModels',
-                                'meta' => [],
                             ],
                             [
                                 'id' => 'post-id-2',
                                 'type' => 'basicModels',
-                                'meta' => [],
                             ],
                         ],
-                        'links' => [],
-                        'meta' => [],
                     ],
                 ],
-                'meta' => [],
-                'links' => [],
             ],
             'jsonapi' => [
                 'version' => '1.0',
-                'meta' => [],
             ],
             'included' => [
                 [
@@ -600,9 +498,6 @@ public function testItCanIncludeACollectionOfResourcesForASingleResource(): void
                         'title' => 'post-title-1',
                         'content' => 'post-content-1',
                     ],
-                    'relationships' => [],
-                    'meta' => [],
-                    'links' => [],
                 ],
                 [
                     'id' => 'post-id-2',
@@ -611,9 +506,6 @@ public function testItCanIncludeACollectionOfResourcesForASingleResource(): void
                         'title' => 'post-title-2',
                         'content' => 'post-content-2',
                     ],
-                    'relationships' => [],
-                    'meta' => [],
-                    'links' => [],
                 ],
             ],
         ]);
@@ -700,20 +592,14 @@ public function testItCanIncludeAManyManyManyRelationship(): void
                                 [
                                     'id' => 'comment-id-1',
                                     'type' => 'basicModels',
-                                    'meta' => [],
                                 ],
                                 [
                                     'id' => 'comment-id-2',
                                     'type' => 'basicModels',
-                                    'meta' => [],
                                 ],
                             ],
-                            'links' => [],
-                            'meta' => [],
                         ],
                     ],
-                    'meta' => [],
-                    'links' => [],
                 ],
                 [
                     'id' => 'post-id-2',
@@ -728,25 +614,18 @@ public function testItCanIncludeAManyManyManyRelationship(): void
                                 [
                                     'id' => 'comment-id-3',
                                     'type' => 'basicModels',
-                                    'meta' => [],
                                 ],
                                 [
                                     'id' => 'comment-id-4',
                                     'type' => 'basicModels',
-                                    'meta' => [],
                                 ],
                             ],
-                            'links' => [],
-                            'meta' => [],
                         ],
                     ],
-                    'meta' => [],
-                    'links' => [],
                 ],
             ],
             'jsonapi' => [
                 'version' => '1.0',
-                'meta' => [],
             ],
             'included' => [
                 [
@@ -761,20 +640,14 @@ public function testItCanIncludeAManyManyManyRelationship(): void
                                 [
                                     'id' => 'like-id-1',
                                     'type' => 'basicModels',
-                                    'meta' => [],
                                 ],
                                 [
                                     'id' => 'like-id-2',
                                     'type' => 'basicModels',
-                                    'meta' => [],
                                 ],
                             ],
-                            'links' => [],
-                            'meta' => [],
                         ],
                     ],
-                    'meta' => [],
-                    'links' => [],
                 ],
                 [
                     'id' => 'comment-id-2',
@@ -788,52 +661,30 @@ public function testItCanIncludeAManyManyManyRelationship(): void
                                 [
                                     'id' => 'like-id-3',
                                     'type' => 'basicModels',
-                                    'meta' => [],
                                 ],
                                 [
                                     'id' => 'like-id-4',
                                     'type' => 'basicModels',
-                                    'meta' => [],
                                 ],
                             ],
-                            'links' => [],
-                            'meta' => [],
                         ],
                     ],
-                    'meta' => [],
-                    'links' => [],
                 ],
                 [
                     'id' => 'like-id-1',
                     'type' => 'basicModels',
-                    'attributes' => [],
-                    'relationships' => [],
-                    'links' => [],
-                    'meta' => [],
                 ],
                 [
                     'id' => 'like-id-2',
                     'type' => 'basicModels',
-                    'attributes' => [],
-                    'relationships' => [],
-                    'links' => [],
-                    'meta' => [],
                 ],
                 [
                     'id' => 'like-id-3',
                     'type' => 'basicModels',
-                    'attributes' => [],
-                    'relationships' => [],
-                    'links' => [],
-                    'meta' => [],
                 ],
                 [
                     'id' => 'like-id-4',
                     'type' => 'basicModels',
-                    'attributes' => [],
-                    'relationships' => [],
-                    'links' => [],
-                    'meta' => [],
                 ],
                 [
                     'id' => 'comment-id-3',
@@ -847,20 +698,14 @@ public function testItCanIncludeAManyManyManyRelationship(): void
                                 [
                                     'id' => 'like-id-5',
                                     'type' => 'basicModels',
-                                    'meta' => [],
                                 ],
                                 [
                                     'id' => 'like-id-6',
                                     'type' => 'basicModels',
-                                    'meta' => [],
                                 ],
                             ],
-                            'links' => [],
-                            'meta' => [],
                         ],
                     ],
-                    'links' => [],
-                    'meta' => [],
                 ],
                 [
                     'id' => 'comment-id-4',
@@ -874,52 +719,30 @@ public function testItCanIncludeAManyManyManyRelationship(): void
                                 [
                                     'id' => 'like-id-7',
                                     'type' => 'basicModels',
-                                    'meta' => [],
                                 ],
                                 [
                                     'id' => 'like-id-8',
                                     'type' => 'basicModels',
-                                    'meta' => [],
                                 ],
                             ],
-                            'links' => [],
-                            'meta' => [],
                         ],
                     ],
-                    'links' => [],
-                    'meta' => [],
                 ],
                 [
                     'id' => 'like-id-5',
                     'type' => 'basicModels',
-                    'attributes' => [],
-                    'relationships' => [],
-                    'links' => [],
-                    'meta' => [],
                 ],
                 [
                     'id' => 'like-id-6',
                     'type' => 'basicModels',
-                    'attributes' => [],
-                    'relationships' => [],
-                    'links' => [],
-                    'meta' => [],
                 ],
                 [
                     'id' => 'like-id-7',
                     'type' => 'basicModels',
-                    'attributes' => [],
-                    'relationships' => [],
-                    'links' => [],
-                    'meta' => [],
                 ],
                 [
                     'id' => 'like-id-8',
                     'type' => 'basicModels',
-                    'attributes' => [],
-                    'relationships' => [],
-                    'links' => [],
-                    'meta' => [],
                 ],
             ],
         ]);
@@ -966,24 +789,17 @@ public function toAttributes($request): array
             'data' => [
                 'id' => 'post-id',
                 'type' => 'basicModels',
-                'attributes' => [],
                 'relationships' => [
                     'relation' => [
                         'data' => [
                             'id' => 'relation-id',
                             'type' => 'relation-type',
-                            'meta' => [],
                         ],
-                        'links' => [],
-                        'meta' => [],
                     ],
                 ],
-                'meta' => [],
-                'links' => [],
             ],
             'jsonapi' => [
                 'version' => '1.0',
-                'meta' => [],
             ],
             'included' => [
                 [
@@ -992,9 +808,6 @@ public function toAttributes($request): array
                     'attributes' => [
                         'name' => 'expected name',
                     ],
-                    'relationships' => [],
-                    'links' => [],
-                    'meta' => [],
                 ],
             ],
         ]);
@@ -1037,14 +850,9 @@ public function testItFiltersOutDuplicateIncludesForACollectionOfResources(): vo
                             'data' => [
                                 'id' => 'avatar-id',
                                 'type' => 'basicModels',
-                                'meta' => [],
                             ],
-                            'links' => [],
-                            'meta' => [],
                         ],
                     ],
-                    'meta' => [],
-                    'links' => [],
                 ],
                 [
                     'id' => 'user-id-2',
@@ -1057,19 +865,13 @@ public function testItFiltersOutDuplicateIncludesForACollectionOfResources(): vo
                             'data' => [
                                 'id' => 'avatar-id',
                                 'type' => 'basicModels',
-                                'meta' => [],
                             ],
-                            'links' => [],
-                            'meta' => [],
                         ],
                     ],
-                    'meta' => [],
-                    'links' => [],
                 ],
             ],
             'jsonapi' => [
                 'version' => '1.0',
-                'meta' => [],
             ],
             'included' => [
                 [
@@ -1078,9 +880,6 @@ public function testItFiltersOutDuplicateIncludesForACollectionOfResources(): vo
                     'attributes' => [
                         'url' => 'https://example.com/avatar.png',
                     ],
-                    'relationships' => [],
-                    'links' => [],
-                    'meta' => [],
                 ],
             ],
         ]);
@@ -1122,19 +921,13 @@ public function testItFiltersOutDuplicateResourceObjectsIncludesForASingleResour
                             [
                                 'id' => 'post-id',
                                 'type' => 'basicModels',
-                                'meta' => [],
                             ],
                         ],
-                        'links' => [],
-                        'meta' => [],
                     ],
                 ],
-                'meta' => [],
-                'links' =>[],
             ],
             'jsonapi' => [
                 'version' => '1.0',
-                'meta' => [],
             ],
             'included' => [
                 [
@@ -1144,9 +937,6 @@ public function testItFiltersOutDuplicateResourceObjectsIncludesForASingleResour
                         'title' => 'post-title',
                         'content' => 'post-content',
                     ],
-                    'relationships' => [],
-                    'meta' => [],
-                    'links' =>[],
                 ],
             ],
         ]);
@@ -1173,13 +963,9 @@ public function testItHasIncludedArrayWhenIncludeParameterIsPresentForASingleRes
                 'attributes' => [
                     'name' => 'user-name',
                 ],
-                'relationships' => [],
-                'meta' => [],
-                'links' =>[],
             ],
             'jsonapi' => [
                 'version' => '1.0',
-                'meta' => [],
             ],
             'included' => [],
         ]);
@@ -1207,14 +993,10 @@ public function testItHasIncludedArrayWhenIncludeParameterIsPresentForACollectio
                     'attributes' => [
                         'name' => 'user-name',
                     ],
-                    'relationships' => [],
-                    'meta' => [],
-                    'links' => [],
                 ],
             ],
             'jsonapi' => [
                 'version' => '1.0',
-                'meta' => [],
             ],
             'included' => [],
         ]);
@@ -1241,16 +1023,11 @@ public function testItCanReturnNullForEmptyToOneRelationships(): void
                 'relationships' => [
                     'avatar' => [
                         'data' => null,
-                        'links' => [],
-                        'meta' => [],
                     ],
                 ],
-                'meta' => [],
-                'links' => [],
             ],
             'jsonapi' => [
                 'version' => '1.0',
-                'meta' => [],
             ],
             'included' => [],
         ]);
@@ -1277,16 +1054,11 @@ public function testItCanReturnAnEmptyArrayForEmptyToManyRelationships(): void
                 'relationships' => [
                     'posts' => [
                         "data" => [],
-                        "links" => [],
-                        "meta" => [],
                     ],
                 ],
-                'meta' => [],
-                'links' => [],
             ],
             'jsonapi' => [
                 'version' => '1.0',
-                'meta' => [],
             ],
             'included' => [],
         ]);
@@ -1349,14 +1121,9 @@ public function testCollectionIncludesDoesntBecomeNumericKeyedObjectAfterFilteri
                             'data' => [
                                 'id' => '1',
                                 'type' => 'basicModels',
-                                'meta' => [],
                             ],
-                            'links' => [],
-                            'meta' => [],
                         ],
                     ],
-                    'meta' => [],
-                    'links' => [],
                 ],
                 [
                     'id' => 'user-id-2',
@@ -1369,14 +1136,9 @@ public function testCollectionIncludesDoesntBecomeNumericKeyedObjectAfterFilteri
                             'data' => [
                                 'id' => '1',
                                 'type' => 'basicModels',
-                                'meta' => [],
                             ],
-                            'links' => [],
-                            'meta' => [],
                         ],
                     ],
-                    'meta' => [],
-                    'links' => [],
                 ],
                 [
                     'id' => 'user-id-3',
@@ -1389,19 +1151,13 @@ public function testCollectionIncludesDoesntBecomeNumericKeyedObjectAfterFilteri
                             'data' => [
                                 'id' => '2',
                                 'type' => 'basicModels',
-                                'meta' => [],
                             ],
-                            'links' => [],
-                            'meta' => [],
                         ],
                     ],
-                    'meta' => [],
-                    'links' => [],
                 ],
             ],
             'jsonapi' => [
                 'version' => '1.0',
-                'meta' => [],
             ],
             'included' => [
                 [
@@ -1410,9 +1166,6 @@ public function testCollectionIncludesDoesntBecomeNumericKeyedObjectAfterFilteri
                     'attributes' => [
                         'url' => 'https://example.com/avatar1.png',
                     ],
-                    'relationships' => [],
-                    'links' => [],
-                    'meta' => [],
                 ],
                 [
                     'id' => '2',
@@ -1420,9 +1173,6 @@ public function testCollectionIncludesDoesntBecomeNumericKeyedObjectAfterFilteri
                     'attributes' => [
                         'url' => 'https://example.com/avatar2.png',
                     ],
-                    'relationships' => [],
-                    'links' => [],
-                    'meta' => [],
                 ],
             ],
         ]);
@@ -1473,15 +1223,10 @@ public function testSingleResourceIncludesDoesntBecomeNumericKeyedObjectAfterFil
                                 [
                                     'id' => '2',
                                     'type' => 'basicModels',
-                                    'meta' => [],
                                 ],
                             ],
-                            'meta' => [],
-                            'links' => [],
                         ],
                     ],
-                    'meta' => [],
-                    'links' => [],
                 ],
                 'included' => [
                     [
@@ -1497,15 +1242,10 @@ public function testSingleResourceIncludesDoesntBecomeNumericKeyedObjectAfterFil
                                     [
                                         'id' => '3',
                                         'type' => 'basicModels',
-                                        'meta' => [],
                                     ],
                                 ],
-                                'meta' => [],
-                                'links' => [],
                             ],
                         ],
-                        'meta' => [],
-                        'links' => [],
                     ],
                     [
                         'id' => '3',
@@ -1513,14 +1253,10 @@ public function testSingleResourceIncludesDoesntBecomeNumericKeyedObjectAfterFil
                         'attributes' => [
                             'content' => 'Comment 1',
                         ],
-                        'relationships' => [],
-                        'meta' => [],
-                        'links' => [],
                     ],
                 ],
                 'jsonapi' => [
                     'version' => '1.0',
-                    'meta' => [],
                 ],
             ]
         );
@@ -1552,13 +1288,9 @@ public function toRelationships($request): array
                 'attributes' => [
                     'name' => 'user-name',
                 ],
-                'relationships' => [],
-                'meta' => [],
-                'links' => [],
             ],
             'jsonapi' => [
                 'version' => '1.0',
-                'meta' => [],
             ],
             'included' => [],
         ]);
@@ -1600,18 +1332,12 @@ public function toRelationships($request): array
                         'data' => [
                             'type' => 'basicModels',
                             'id' => '2',
-                            'meta' => [],
                         ],
-                        'links' => [],
-                        'meta' => [],
                     ],
                 ],
-                'meta' => [],
-                'links' => [],
             ],
             'jsonapi' => [
                 'version' => '1.0',
-                'meta' => [],
             ],
             'included' => [
                 [
@@ -1620,9 +1346,6 @@ public function toRelationships($request): array
                     'attributes' => [
                         'name' => 'relation-name',
                     ],
-                    'relationships' => [],
-                    'links' => [],
-                    'meta' => [],
                 ],
             ],
         ]);
@@ -1665,18 +1388,12 @@ public function toRelationships($request): array
                         'data' => [
                             'type' => 'basicModels',
                             'id' => '2',
-                            'meta' => [],
                         ],
-                        'links' => [],
-                        'meta' => [],
                     ],
                 ],
-                'meta' => [],
-                'links' => [],
             ],
             'jsonapi' => [
                 'version' => '1.0',
-                'meta' => [],
             ],
             'included' => [
                 [
@@ -1685,9 +1402,6 @@ public function toRelationships($request): array
                     'attributes' => [
                         'name' => 'relation-name',
                     ],
-                    'relationships' => [],
-                    'links' => [],
-                    'meta' => [],
                 ],
             ],
         ]);
diff --git a/tests/Feature/ResourceIdentificationTest.php b/tests/Feature/ResourceIdentificationTest.php
index 1952012..8e8c755 100644
--- a/tests/Feature/ResourceIdentificationTest.php
+++ b/tests/Feature/ResourceIdentificationTest.php
@@ -29,15 +29,10 @@ public function testIt()
         "author": {
           "data": {
             "type": "users",
-            "id": "74812",
-            "meta": {}
-          },
-          "meta": {},
-          "links": {}
+            "id": "74812"
+          }
         }
-      },
-      "meta": {},
-      "links": {}
+      }
     },
     {
       "id": "39974",
@@ -50,15 +45,10 @@ public function testIt()
         "author": {
           "data": {
             "type": "users",
-            "id": "74812",
-            "meta": {}
-          },
-          "meta": {},
-          "links": {}
+            "id": "74812"
+          }
         }
-      },
-      "meta": {},
-      "links": {}
+      }
     }
   ],
   "included": [
@@ -67,10 +57,7 @@ public function testIt()
       "id": "74812",
       "attributes": {
         "name": "Tim"
-      },
-      "relationships": {},
-      "meta": {},
-      "links": {}
+      }
     }
   ]
 }
@@ -90,14 +77,9 @@ public function testItResolvesTheIdAndTypeOfAModel(): void
             'data' => [
                 'id' => 'user-id',
                 'type' => 'basicModels',
-                'attributes' => [],
-                'relationships' => [],
-                'links' => [],
-                'meta' => [],
             ],
             'jsonapi' => [
                 'version' => '1.0',
-                'meta' => [],
             ],
             'included' => [],
         ]);
@@ -120,14 +102,9 @@ public function testItCastsAModelsIntegerIdToAString(): void
             'data' => [
                 'id' => '55',
                 'type' => 'basicModels',
-                'attributes' => [],
-                'relationships' => [],
-                'links' => [],
-                'meta' => [],
             ],
             'jsonapi' => [
                 'version' => '1.0',
-                'meta' => [],
             ],
             'included' => [],
         ]);
diff --git a/tests/Unit/AttributesAsPropertiesTest.php b/tests/Unit/AttributesAsPropertiesTest.php
index 98d375b..306abfd 100644
--- a/tests/Unit/AttributesAsPropertiesTest.php
+++ b/tests/Unit/AttributesAsPropertiesTest.php
@@ -41,9 +41,6 @@ public function toAttributes($request)
             'attributes' => [
                 'content' => 'post-content',
             ],
-            'relationships' => [],
-            'meta' => [],
-            'links' => [],
         ], $response->getData(true)['data']);
     }
 
@@ -76,9 +73,6 @@ public function toAttributes($request)
             'attributes' => [
                 'title' => 'expected-title',
             ],
-            'relationships' => [],
-            'meta' => [],
-            'links' => [],
         ], $response->getData(true)['data']);
     }
 
@@ -97,6 +91,6 @@ public function getAttributesAttribute()
         $response = $resource->toResponse(Request::create('https://timacdonald.me'));
 
         $this->assertValidJsonApi($response->content());
-        $this->assertSame([], $response->getData(true)['data']['attributes']);
+        $this->assertSame([], $response->getData(true)['data']['attributes'] ?? []);
     }
 }
diff --git a/tests/Unit/LinkTest.php b/tests/Unit/LinkTest.php
index 4af0b66..7011f5c 100644
--- a/tests/Unit/LinkTest.php
+++ b/tests/Unit/LinkTest.php
@@ -21,22 +21,22 @@ public function testItSerializes(): void
         $this->assertSame('{"href":"https:\/\/related.com","meta":{"expected":"meta"}}', $serialized);
     }
 
-    public function testEmptyMetaIsObject(): void
+    public function testEmptyMetaIsExluded(): void
     {
         $link = Link::related('https://related.com', []);
 
         $serialized = json_encode($link);
 
-        $this->assertSame('{"href":"https:\/\/related.com","meta":{}}', $serialized);
+        $this->assertSame('{"href":"https:\/\/related.com"}', $serialized);
     }
 
-    public function testMissingMetaIsObject(): void
+    public function testMissingMetaIsExcluded(): void
     {
         $link = Link::related('https://related.com');
 
         $serialized = json_encode($link);
 
-        $this->assertSame('{"href":"https:\/\/related.com","meta":{}}', $serialized);
+        $this->assertSame('{"href":"https:\/\/related.com"}', $serialized);
     }
 
     public function testMetaCanBeAppended(): void
@@ -70,7 +70,7 @@ public function testItCanUseHash()
 
         $links = json_encode($resource->toArray($request)['links']);
 
-        $this->assertSame('{"foo":{"href":"http:\/\/foo.com","meta":{}}}', $links);
+        $this->assertSame('{"foo":{"href":"http:\/\/foo.com"}}', $links);
 
         JsonApiResource::resolveIdNormally();
         JsonApiResource::resolveTypeNormally();
diff --git a/tests/Unit/RelationshipObjectTest.php b/tests/Unit/RelationshipObjectTest.php
index be5632e..0f29ef0 100644
--- a/tests/Unit/RelationshipObjectTest.php
+++ b/tests/Unit/RelationshipObjectTest.php
@@ -17,25 +17,25 @@ public function testItSerializes(): void
 
         $serialized = json_encode($link);
 
-        $this->assertSame('{"data":{"type":"expected-type","id":"expected-id","meta":{}},"meta":{"expected":"meta"},"links":{"expected":{"href":"link","meta":{}}}}', $serialized);
+        $this->assertSame('{"data":{"type":"expected-type","id":"expected-id"},"meta":{"expected":"meta"},"links":{"expected":{"href":"link"}}}', $serialized);
     }
 
-    public function testEmptyMetaAndLinksIsObject(): void
+    public function testEmptyMetaAndLinksIsExcluded(): void
     {
         $link = RelationshipObject::toOne(new ResourceIdentifier('expected-type', 'expected-id'), [], []);
 
         $serialized = json_encode($link);
 
-        $this->assertSame('{"data":{"type":"expected-type","id":"expected-id","meta":{}},"meta":{},"links":{}}', $serialized);
+        $this->assertSame('{"data":{"type":"expected-type","id":"expected-id"}}', $serialized);
     }
 
-    public function testMissingMetaAndLinksIsObject(): void
+    public function testMissingMetaAndLinksIsExcluded(): void
     {
         $link = RelationshipObject::toOne(new ResourceIdentifier('expected-type', 'expected-id'));
 
         $serialized = json_encode($link);
 
-        $this->assertSame('{"data":{"type":"expected-type","id":"expected-id","meta":{}},"meta":{},"links":{}}', $serialized);
+        $this->assertSame('{"data":{"type":"expected-type","id":"expected-id"}}', $serialized);
     }
 
     public function testMetaAndLinksCanBeAppended(): void
@@ -47,6 +47,6 @@ public function testMetaAndLinksCanBeAppended(): void
                 ->withLinks([Link::self('self.com')])
         );
 
-        $this->assertSame('{"data":[{"type":"expected-type","id":"expected-id","meta":{}}],"meta":{"original":"meta","expected":"meta","another":"one"},"links":{"related":{"href":"related.com","meta":{}},"self":{"href":"self.com","meta":{}}}}', $serialized);
+        $this->assertSame('{"data":[{"type":"expected-type","id":"expected-id"}],"meta":{"original":"meta","expected":"meta","another":"one"},"links":{"related":{"href":"related.com"},"self":{"href":"self.com"}}}', $serialized);
     }
 }
diff --git a/tests/Unit/RelationshipsAsPropertiesTest.php b/tests/Unit/RelationshipsAsPropertiesTest.php
index b171684..e623d42 100644
--- a/tests/Unit/RelationshipsAsPropertiesTest.php
+++ b/tests/Unit/RelationshipsAsPropertiesTest.php
@@ -47,10 +47,7 @@ public function toRelationships($request)
                 'data' => [
                     'type' => 'basicModels',
                     'id' => 'author-id',
-                    'meta' => [],
                 ],
-                'meta' => [],
-                'links' => [],
             ],
         ], $response->getData(true)['data']['relationships']);
         $this->assertSame([
@@ -60,9 +57,6 @@ public function toRelationships($request)
                 'attributes' => [
                     'name' => 'author-name',
                 ],
-                'relationships' => [],
-                'meta' => [],
-                'links' => [],
             ],
         ], $response->getData(true)['included']);
     }
@@ -96,10 +90,7 @@ public function toRelationships($request)
                 'data' => [[
                     'type' => 'basicModels',
                     'id' => 'comment-id',
-                    'meta' => [],
                 ]],
-                'meta' => [],
-                'links' => [],
             ],
         ], $response->getData(true)['data']['relationships']);
         $this->assertSame([
@@ -109,9 +100,6 @@ public function toRelationships($request)
                 'attributes' => [
                     'content' => 'comment-content',
                 ],
-                'relationships' => [],
-                'meta' => [],
-                'links' => [],
             ],
         ], $response->getData(true)['included']);
     }
@@ -147,10 +135,7 @@ public function toRelationships($request)
                 'data' => [[
                     'type' => 'basicModels',
                     'id' => 'comment-id',
-                    'meta' => [],
                 ]],
-                'meta' => [],
-                'links' => [],
             ],
         ], $response->getData(true)['data']['relationships']);
         $this->assertSame([
@@ -160,9 +145,6 @@ public function toRelationships($request)
                 'attributes' => [
                     'content' => 'comment-content',
                 ],
-                'relationships' => [],
-                'meta' => [],
-                'links' => [],
             ],
         ], $response->getData(true)['included']);
     }
@@ -202,11 +184,8 @@ public function toRelationships($request)
                     [
                         'type' => 'basicModels',
                         'id' => 'post-id',
-                        'meta' => [],
                     ],
                 ],
-                'meta' => [],
-                'links' => [],
             ],
         ], $response->getData(true)['data']['relationships']);
         $this->assertSame([
@@ -217,9 +196,6 @@ public function toRelationships($request)
                     'title' => 'post-title',
                     'content' => 'post-content',
                 ],
-                'relationships' => [],
-                'meta' => [],
-                'links' => [],
             ],
         ], $response->getData(true)['included']);
         JsonApiResource::guessRelationshipResourceUsing(null);
@@ -240,6 +216,6 @@ public function getRelationshipsAttribute()
         $response = $resource->toResponse(Request::create('https://timacdonald.me'));
 
         $this->assertValidJsonApi($response->content());
-        $this->assertSame([], $response->getData(true)['data']['relationships']);
+        $this->assertSame([], $response->getData(true)['data']['relationships'] ?? []);
     }
 }
diff --git a/tests/Unit/ResourceIdentifierTest.php b/tests/Unit/ResourceIdentifierTest.php
index 4ba6b99..f627512 100644
--- a/tests/Unit/ResourceIdentifierTest.php
+++ b/tests/Unit/ResourceIdentifierTest.php
@@ -18,22 +18,22 @@ public function testItSerializes(): void
         $this->assertSame('{"type":"expected-type","id":"expected-id","meta":{"expected":"meta"}}', $serialized);
     }
 
-    public function testEmptyMetaIsObject(): void
+    public function testEmptyMetaIsExcluded(): void
     {
         $identifier = new ResourceIdentifier('expected-type', 'expected-id', []);
 
         $serialized = json_encode($identifier);
 
-        $this->assertSame('{"type":"expected-type","id":"expected-id","meta":{}}', $serialized);
+        $this->assertSame('{"type":"expected-type","id":"expected-id"}', $serialized);
     }
 
-    public function testMissingMetaIsObject(): void
+    public function testMissingMetaIsExcluded(): void
     {
         $identifier = new ResourceIdentifier('expected-type', 'expected-id');
 
         $serialized = json_encode($identifier);
 
-        $this->assertSame('{"type":"expected-type","id":"expected-id","meta":{}}', $serialized);
+        $this->assertSame('{"type":"expected-type","id":"expected-id"}', $serialized);
     }
 
     public function testMetaCanBeAppended(): void
diff --git a/tests/Unit/ServerApiImplementationTest.php b/tests/Unit/ServerApiImplementationTest.php
index 5349157..aea6717 100644
--- a/tests/Unit/ServerApiImplementationTest.php
+++ b/tests/Unit/ServerApiImplementationTest.php
@@ -22,21 +22,21 @@ public function testItSerializes(): void
         self::assertSame('{"version":"5.0","meta":{"expected":"meta","more":"meta"}}', $json);
     }
 
-    public function testEmptyMetaIsObject(): void
+    public function testEmptyMetaIsExcluded(): void
     {
         $instance = new JsonApiServerImplementation('5.0', []);
 
         $json = json_encode($instance);
 
-        $this->assertSame('{"version":"5.0","meta":{}}', $json);
+        $this->assertSame('{"version":"5.0"}', $json);
     }
 
-    public function testMissingMetaIsObject(): void
+    public function testMissingMetaIsExcluded(): void
     {
         $instance = new JsonApiServerImplementation('5.0');
 
         $json = json_encode($instance);
 
-        $this->assertSame('{"version":"5.0","meta":{}}', $json);
+        $this->assertSame('{"version":"5.0"}', $json);
     }
 }