def does_dtype_have_a_zero_shape(dt):
    """ Determine whether a dtype (or its fields) have zero shape.

    Determines whether the given ``numpy.dtype`` has a shape with a zero
    element or if one of its fields does, or if one of its fields'
    fields does, and so on recursively. The following dtypes do not have
    zero shape.

    * ``'uint8'``
    * ``[('a', 'int32'), ('blah', 'float16', (3, 3))]``
    * ``[('a', [('b', 'complex64')], (2, 1, 3))]``

    But the following do

    * ``('uint8', (1, 0))``
    * ``[('a', 'int32'), ('blah', 'float16', (3, 0))]``
    * ``[('a', [('b', 'complex64')], (2, 0, 3))]``

    Parameters
    ----------
    dt : numpy.dtype
        The dtype to check.

    Returns
    -------
    yesno : bool
        Whether `dt` or one of its fields has a shape with at least one
        element that is zero.

    Raises
    ------
    TypeError
        If `dt` is not a ``numpy.dtype``.

    """
    components = [dt]
    while 0 != len(components):
        c = components.pop()
        if 0 in c.shape:
            return True
        if c.names is not None:
            components.extend([v[0] for v in c.fields.values()])
        if c.base != c:
            components.append(c.base)
    return False
Determine whether a dtype (or its fields) have zero shape.

    Determines whether the given ``numpy.dtype`` has a shape with a zero
    element or if one of its fields does, or if one of its fields'
    fields does, and so on recursively. The following dtypes do not have
    zero shape.

    * ``'uint8'``
    * ``[('a', 'int32'), ('blah', 'float16', (3, 3))]``
    * ``[('a', [('b', 'complex64')], (2, 1, 3))]``

    But the following do

    * ``('uint8', (1, 0))``
    * ``[('a', 'int32'), ('blah', 'float16', (3, 0))]``
    * ``[('a', [('b', 'complex64')], (2, 0, 3))]``

    Parameters
    ----------
    dt : numpy.dtype
        The dtype to check.

    Returns
    -------
    yesno : bool
        Whether `dt` or one of its fields has a shape with at least one
        element that is zero.

    Raises
    ------
    TypeError
        If `dt` is not a ``numpy.dtype``.