def _unpack_dict(example):
    """
    Input data format standardization
    """
    try:
        x = example['data']
        y = example['target']
        meta = example.get('metadata', {})
        return x, y, meta
    except KeyError:
        raise IndicoError(
            "Invalid input data.  Please ensure input data is "
            "formatted as a list of dicts with `data` and `target` keys. "
            "A `metadata` key may optionally be included."
        )
Input data format standardization