diff --git a/compiler/rustc_metadata/src/rmeta/decoder.rs b/compiler/rustc_metadata/src/rmeta/decoder.rs
index 44da3fbe300ca..bb2dd290c6d5d 100644
--- a/compiler/rustc_metadata/src/rmeta/decoder.rs
+++ b/compiler/rustc_metadata/src/rmeta/decoder.rs
@@ -985,7 +985,7 @@ impl<'a, 'tcx> CrateMetadataRef<'a> {
         let vis = self.get_visibility(id);
         let span = self.get_span(id, sess);
         let macro_rules = match kind {
-            DefKind::Macro(..) => self.root.tables.macro_rules.get(self, id).is_some(),
+            DefKind::Macro(..) => self.root.tables.is_macro_rules.get(self, id),
             _ => false,
         };
 
@@ -1283,7 +1283,7 @@ impl<'a, 'tcx> CrateMetadataRef<'a> {
     fn get_macro(self, id: DefIndex, sess: &Session) -> ast::MacroDef {
         match self.def_kind(id) {
             DefKind::Macro(_) => {
-                let macro_rules = self.root.tables.macro_rules.get(self, id).is_some();
+                let macro_rules = self.root.tables.is_macro_rules.get(self, id);
                 let body =
                     self.root.tables.macro_definition.get(self, id).unwrap().decode((self, sess));
                 ast::MacroDef { macro_rules, body: ast::ptr::P(body) }
@@ -1595,11 +1595,11 @@ impl<'a, 'tcx> CrateMetadataRef<'a> {
     }
 
     fn get_attr_flags(self, index: DefIndex) -> AttrFlags {
-        self.root.tables.attr_flags.get(self, index).unwrap_or(AttrFlags::empty())
+        self.root.tables.attr_flags.get(self, index)
     }
 
     fn get_is_intrinsic(self, index: DefIndex) -> bool {
-        self.root.tables.is_intrinsic.get(self, index).is_some()
+        self.root.tables.is_intrinsic.get(self, index)
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/compiler/rustc_metadata/src/rmeta/decoder/cstore_impl.rs b/compiler/rustc_metadata/src/rmeta/decoder/cstore_impl.rs
index 2fa645cd9e33d..eebc2f21dfe4e 100644
--- a/compiler/rustc_metadata/src/rmeta/decoder/cstore_impl.rs
+++ b/compiler/rustc_metadata/src/rmeta/decoder/cstore_impl.rs
@@ -226,12 +226,7 @@ provide! { tcx, def_id, other, cdata,
     deduced_param_attrs => { table }
     is_type_alias_impl_trait => {
         debug_assert_eq!(tcx.def_kind(def_id), DefKind::OpaqueTy);
-        cdata
-            .root
-            .tables
-            .is_type_alias_impl_trait
-            .get(cdata, def_id.index)
-            .is_some()
+        cdata.root.tables.is_type_alias_impl_trait.get(cdata, def_id.index)
     }
     collect_return_position_impl_trait_in_trait_tys => {
         Ok(cdata
diff --git a/compiler/rustc_metadata/src/rmeta/encoder.rs b/compiler/rustc_metadata/src/rmeta/encoder.rs
index 2ecaa33d4d315..97f0457ba7116 100644
--- a/compiler/rustc_metadata/src/rmeta/encoder.rs
+++ b/compiler/rustc_metadata/src/rmeta/encoder.rs
@@ -483,7 +483,7 @@ impl<'a, 'tcx> EncodeContext<'a, 'tcx> {
         self.lazy(DefPathHashMapRef::BorrowedFromTcx(self.tcx.def_path_hash_to_def_index_map()))
     }
 
-    fn encode_source_map(&mut self) -> LazyTable<u32, LazyValue<rustc_span::SourceFile>> {
+    fn encode_source_map(&mut self) -> LazyTable<u32, Option<LazyValue<rustc_span::SourceFile>>> {
         let source_map = self.tcx.sess.source_map();
         let all_source_files = source_map.files();
 
@@ -1130,7 +1130,7 @@ impl<'a, 'tcx> EncodeContext<'a, 'tcx> {
             attr_flags |= AttrFlags::IS_DOC_HIDDEN;
         }
         if !attr_flags.is_empty() {
-            self.tables.attr_flags.set(def_id.local_def_index, attr_flags);
+            self.tables.attr_flags.set_nullable(def_id.local_def_index, attr_flags);
         }
     }
 
@@ -1387,7 +1387,7 @@ impl<'a, 'tcx> EncodeContext<'a, 'tcx> {
         if impl_item.kind == ty::AssocKind::Fn {
             record!(self.tables.fn_sig[def_id] <- tcx.fn_sig(def_id));
             if tcx.is_intrinsic(def_id) {
-                self.tables.is_intrinsic.set(def_id.index, ());
+                self.tables.is_intrinsic.set_nullable(def_id.index, true);
             }
         }
     }
@@ -1519,7 +1519,7 @@ impl<'a, 'tcx> EncodeContext<'a, 'tcx> {
             }
             hir::ItemKind::Macro(ref macro_def, _) => {
                 if macro_def.macro_rules {
-                    self.tables.macro_rules.set(def_id.index, ());
+                    self.tables.is_macro_rules.set_nullable(def_id.index, true);
                 }
                 record!(self.tables.macro_definition[def_id] <- &*macro_def.body);
             }
@@ -1529,7 +1529,7 @@ impl<'a, 'tcx> EncodeContext<'a, 'tcx> {
             hir::ItemKind::OpaqueTy(ref opaque) => {
                 self.encode_explicit_item_bounds(def_id);
                 if matches!(opaque.origin, hir::OpaqueTyOrigin::TyAlias) {
-                    self.tables.is_type_alias_impl_trait.set(def_id.index, ());
+                    self.tables.is_type_alias_impl_trait.set_nullable(def_id.index, true);
                 }
             }
             hir::ItemKind::Enum(..) => {
@@ -1636,7 +1636,7 @@ impl<'a, 'tcx> EncodeContext<'a, 'tcx> {
         if let hir::ItemKind::Fn(..) = item.kind {
             record!(self.tables.fn_sig[def_id] <- tcx.fn_sig(def_id));
             if tcx.is_intrinsic(def_id) {
-                self.tables.is_intrinsic.set(def_id.index, ());
+                self.tables.is_intrinsic.set_nullable(def_id.index, true);
             }
         }
         if let hir::ItemKind::Impl { .. } = item.kind {
@@ -2038,7 +2038,7 @@ impl<'a, 'tcx> EncodeContext<'a, 'tcx> {
         }
         if let hir::ForeignItemKind::Fn(..) = nitem.kind {
             if tcx.is_intrinsic(def_id) {
-                self.tables.is_intrinsic.set(def_id.index, ());
+                self.tables.is_intrinsic.set_nullable(def_id.index, true);
             }
         }
     }
diff --git a/compiler/rustc_metadata/src/rmeta/mod.rs b/compiler/rustc_metadata/src/rmeta/mod.rs
index 69690264ae4ea..698b2ebc4732a 100644
--- a/compiler/rustc_metadata/src/rmeta/mod.rs
+++ b/compiler/rustc_metadata/src/rmeta/mod.rs
@@ -185,9 +185,9 @@ enum LazyState {
     Previous(NonZeroUsize),
 }
 
-type SyntaxContextTable = LazyTable<u32, LazyValue<SyntaxContextData>>;
-type ExpnDataTable = LazyTable<ExpnIndex, LazyValue<ExpnData>>;
-type ExpnHashTable = LazyTable<ExpnIndex, LazyValue<ExpnHash>>;
+type SyntaxContextTable = LazyTable<u32, Option<LazyValue<SyntaxContextData>>>;
+type ExpnDataTable = LazyTable<ExpnIndex, Option<LazyValue<ExpnData>>>;
+type ExpnHashTable = LazyTable<ExpnIndex, Option<LazyValue<ExpnHash>>>;
 
 #[derive(MetadataEncodable, MetadataDecodable)]
 pub(crate) struct ProcMacroData {
@@ -253,7 +253,7 @@ pub(crate) struct CrateRoot {
 
     def_path_hash_map: LazyValue<DefPathHashMapRef<'static>>,
 
-    source_map: LazyTable<u32, LazyValue<rustc_span::SourceFile>>,
+    source_map: LazyTable<u32, Option<LazyValue<rustc_span::SourceFile>>>,
 
     compiler_builtins: bool,
     needs_allocator: bool,
@@ -315,21 +315,27 @@ pub(crate) struct IncoherentImpls {
 
 /// Define `LazyTables` and `TableBuilders` at the same time.
 macro_rules! define_tables {
-    ($($name:ident: Table<$IDX:ty, $T:ty>),+ $(,)?) => {
+    (
+        - nullable: $($name1:ident: Table<$IDX1:ty, $T1:ty>,)+
+        - optional: $($name2:ident: Table<$IDX2:ty, $T2:ty>,)+
+    ) => {
         #[derive(MetadataEncodable, MetadataDecodable)]
         pub(crate) struct LazyTables {
-            $($name: LazyTable<$IDX, $T>),+
+            $($name1: LazyTable<$IDX1, $T1>,)+
+            $($name2: LazyTable<$IDX2, Option<$T2>>,)+
         }
 
         #[derive(Default)]
         struct TableBuilders {
-            $($name: TableBuilder<$IDX, $T>),+
+            $($name1: TableBuilder<$IDX1, $T1>,)+
+            $($name2: TableBuilder<$IDX2, Option<$T2>>,)+
         }
 
         impl TableBuilders {
             fn encode(&self, buf: &mut FileEncoder) -> LazyTables {
                 LazyTables {
-                    $($name: self.$name.encode(buf)),+
+                    $($name1: self.$name1.encode(buf),)+
+                    $($name2: self.$name2.encode(buf),)+
                 }
             }
         }
@@ -337,9 +343,15 @@ macro_rules! define_tables {
 }
 
 define_tables! {
+- nullable:
+    is_intrinsic: Table<DefIndex, bool>,
+    is_macro_rules: Table<DefIndex, bool>,
+    is_type_alias_impl_trait: Table<DefIndex, bool>,
+    attr_flags: Table<DefIndex, AttrFlags>,
+
+- optional:
     attributes: Table<DefIndex, LazyArray<ast::Attribute>>,
     children: Table<DefIndex, LazyArray<DefIndex>>,
-
     opt_def_kind: Table<DefIndex, DefKind>,
     visibility: Table<DefIndex, LazyValue<ty::Visibility<DefIndex>>>,
     def_span: Table<DefIndex, LazyValue<Span>>,
@@ -370,7 +382,6 @@ define_tables! {
     impl_parent: Table<DefIndex, RawDefId>,
     impl_polarity: Table<DefIndex, ty::ImplPolarity>,
     constness: Table<DefIndex, hir::Constness>,
-    is_intrinsic: Table<DefIndex, ()>,
     impl_defaultness: Table<DefIndex, hir::Defaultness>,
     // FIXME(eddyb) perhaps compute this on the fly if cheap enough?
     coerce_unsized_info: Table<DefIndex, LazyValue<ty::adjustment::CoerceUnsizedInfo>>,
@@ -380,7 +391,6 @@ define_tables! {
     fn_arg_names: Table<DefIndex, LazyArray<Ident>>,
     generator_kind: Table<DefIndex, LazyValue<hir::GeneratorKind>>,
     trait_def: Table<DefIndex, LazyValue<ty::TraitDef>>,
-
     trait_item_def_id: Table<DefIndex, RawDefId>,
     inherent_impls: Table<DefIndex, LazyArray<DefIndex>>,
     expn_that_defined: Table<DefIndex, LazyValue<ExpnId>>,
@@ -395,18 +405,12 @@ define_tables! {
     def_path_hashes: Table<DefIndex, DefPathHash>,
     proc_macro_quoted_spans: Table<usize, LazyValue<Span>>,
     generator_diagnostic_data: Table<DefIndex, LazyValue<GeneratorDiagnosticData<'static>>>,
-    attr_flags: Table<DefIndex, AttrFlags>,
     variant_data: Table<DefIndex, LazyValue<VariantData>>,
     assoc_container: Table<DefIndex, ty::AssocItemContainer>,
-    // Slot is full when macro is macro_rules.
-    macro_rules: Table<DefIndex, ()>,
     macro_definition: Table<DefIndex, LazyValue<ast::DelimArgs>>,
     proc_macro: Table<DefIndex, MacroKind>,
     module_reexports: Table<DefIndex, LazyArray<ModChild>>,
     deduced_param_attrs: Table<DefIndex, LazyArray<DeducedParamAttrs>>,
-    // Slot is full when opaque is TAIT.
-    is_type_alias_impl_trait: Table<DefIndex, ()>,
-
     trait_impl_trait_tys: Table<DefIndex, LazyValue<FxHashMap<DefId, Ty<'static>>>>,
 }
 
@@ -419,6 +423,7 @@ struct VariantData {
 }
 
 bitflags::bitflags! {
+    #[derive(Default)]
     pub struct AttrFlags: u8 {
         const MAY_HAVE_DOC_LINKS = 1 << 0;
         const IS_DOC_HIDDEN      = 1 << 1;
diff --git a/compiler/rustc_metadata/src/rmeta/table.rs b/compiler/rustc_metadata/src/rmeta/table.rs
index dc003227d40bd..70dbf6476e2fa 100644
--- a/compiler/rustc_metadata/src/rmeta/table.rs
+++ b/compiler/rustc_metadata/src/rmeta/table.rs
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ use std::num::NonZeroUsize;
 /// but this has no impact on safety.
 pub(super) trait FixedSizeEncoding: Default {
     /// This should be `[u8; BYTE_LEN]`;
+    /// Cannot use an associated `const BYTE_LEN: usize` instead due to const eval limitations.
     type ByteArray;
 
     fn from_bytes(b: &Self::ByteArray) -> Self;
@@ -199,31 +200,31 @@ impl FixedSizeEncoding for Option<RawDefId> {
     }
 }
 
-impl FixedSizeEncoding for Option<AttrFlags> {
+impl FixedSizeEncoding for AttrFlags {
     type ByteArray = [u8; 1];
 
     #[inline]
     fn from_bytes(b: &[u8; 1]) -> Self {
-        (b[0] != 0).then(|| AttrFlags::from_bits_truncate(b[0]))
+        AttrFlags::from_bits_truncate(b[0])
     }
 
     #[inline]
     fn write_to_bytes(self, b: &mut [u8; 1]) {
-        b[0] = self.map_or(0, |flags| flags.bits())
+        b[0] = self.bits();
     }
 }
 
-impl FixedSizeEncoding for Option<()> {
+impl FixedSizeEncoding for bool {
     type ByteArray = [u8; 1];
 
     #[inline]
     fn from_bytes(b: &[u8; 1]) -> Self {
-        (b[0] != 0).then(|| ())
+        b[0] != 0
     }
 
     #[inline]
     fn write_to_bytes(self, b: &mut [u8; 1]) {
-        b[0] = self.is_some() as u8
+        b[0] = self as u8
     }
 }
 
@@ -273,44 +274,38 @@ impl<T> FixedSizeEncoding for Option<LazyArray<T>> {
 }
 
 /// Helper for constructing a table's serialization (also see `Table`).
-pub(super) struct TableBuilder<I: Idx, T>
-where
-    Option<T>: FixedSizeEncoding,
-{
-    blocks: IndexVec<I, <Option<T> as FixedSizeEncoding>::ByteArray>,
+pub(super) struct TableBuilder<I: Idx, T: FixedSizeEncoding> {
+    blocks: IndexVec<I, T::ByteArray>,
     _marker: PhantomData<T>,
 }
 
-impl<I: Idx, T> Default for TableBuilder<I, T>
-where
-    Option<T>: FixedSizeEncoding,
-{
+impl<I: Idx, T: FixedSizeEncoding> Default for TableBuilder<I, T> {
     fn default() -> Self {
         TableBuilder { blocks: Default::default(), _marker: PhantomData }
     }
 }
 
-impl<I: Idx, T> TableBuilder<I, T>
+impl<I: Idx, const N: usize, T> TableBuilder<I, Option<T>>
 where
-    Option<T>: FixedSizeEncoding,
+    Option<T>: FixedSizeEncoding<ByteArray = [u8; N]>,
 {
-    pub(crate) fn set<const N: usize>(&mut self, i: I, value: T)
-    where
-        Option<T>: FixedSizeEncoding<ByteArray = [u8; N]>,
-    {
+    pub(crate) fn set(&mut self, i: I, value: T) {
+        self.set_nullable(i, Some(value))
+    }
+}
+
+impl<I: Idx, const N: usize, T: FixedSizeEncoding<ByteArray = [u8; N]>> TableBuilder<I, T> {
+    pub(crate) fn set_nullable(&mut self, i: I, value: T) {
         // FIXME(eddyb) investigate more compact encodings for sparse tables.
         // On the PR @michaelwoerister mentioned:
         // > Space requirements could perhaps be optimized by using the HAMT `popcnt`
         // > trick (i.e. divide things into buckets of 32 or 64 items and then
         // > store bit-masks of which item in each bucket is actually serialized).
         self.blocks.ensure_contains_elem(i, || [0; N]);
-        Some(value).write_to_bytes(&mut self.blocks[i]);
+        value.write_to_bytes(&mut self.blocks[i]);
     }
 
-    pub(crate) fn encode<const N: usize>(&self, buf: &mut FileEncoder) -> LazyTable<I, T>
-    where
-        Option<T>: FixedSizeEncoding<ByteArray = [u8; N]>,
-    {
+    pub(crate) fn encode(&self, buf: &mut FileEncoder) -> LazyTable<I, T> {
         let pos = buf.position();
         for block in &self.blocks {
             buf.emit_raw_bytes(block);
@@ -323,34 +318,27 @@ where
     }
 }
 
-impl<I: Idx, T: ParameterizedOverTcx> LazyTable<I, T>
+impl<I: Idx, const N: usize, T: FixedSizeEncoding<ByteArray = [u8; N]> + ParameterizedOverTcx>
+    LazyTable<I, T>
 where
-    Option<T>: FixedSizeEncoding,
+    for<'tcx> T::Value<'tcx>: FixedSizeEncoding<ByteArray = [u8; N]>,
 {
     /// Given the metadata, extract out the value at a particular index (if any).
     #[inline(never)]
-    pub(super) fn get<'a, 'tcx, M: Metadata<'a, 'tcx>, const N: usize>(
-        &self,
-        metadata: M,
-        i: I,
-    ) -> Option<T::Value<'tcx>>
-    where
-        Option<T::Value<'tcx>>: FixedSizeEncoding<ByteArray = [u8; N]>,
-    {
+    pub(super) fn get<'a, 'tcx, M: Metadata<'a, 'tcx>>(&self, metadata: M, i: I) -> T::Value<'tcx> {
         debug!("LazyTable::lookup: index={:?} len={:?}", i, self.encoded_size);
 
         let start = self.position.get();
         let bytes = &metadata.blob()[start..start + self.encoded_size];
         let (bytes, []) = bytes.as_chunks::<N>() else { panic!() };
-        let bytes = bytes.get(i.index())?;
-        FixedSizeEncoding::from_bytes(bytes)
+        match bytes.get(i.index()) {
+            Some(bytes) => FixedSizeEncoding::from_bytes(bytes),
+            None => FixedSizeEncoding::from_bytes(&[0; N]),
+        }
     }
 
     /// Size of the table in entries, including possible gaps.
-    pub(super) fn size<const N: usize>(&self) -> usize
-    where
-        for<'tcx> Option<T::Value<'tcx>>: FixedSizeEncoding<ByteArray = [u8; N]>,
-    {
+    pub(super) fn size(&self) -> usize {
         self.encoded_size / N
     }
 }