code: def equals(a, b, encoding_a="utf-8", encoding_b="utf-8"):
      """
      Purpose: Used primarily for equality comparisons between bytes and str but can be used for any type
  
      :param a: any python type, including bytes
      :param b: any python type, including bytes
      :param encoding_a: str designating encoding format [default="utf-8"]
      :param encoding_b: str designating encoding format [default="utf-8"]
      :return: bool
      """
      if isinstance(a, bytes):
          a = a.decode(encoding_a)
      if isinstance(b, bytes):
          b = b.decode(encoding_b)
      return a == b
  
label_desc: Use image node_id 2 for calling a global function with example usage: equals(a, b, encoding_a, encoding_b) and returns: unknown