code: def _validate_pathlike(s):
      if isinstance(s, (str, os.PathLike)):
          # Store value as str because savefig.directory needs to distinguish
          # between "" (cwd) and "." (cwd, but gets updated by user selections).
          return os.fsdecode(s)
      else:
          return validate_string(s)
  
imports: import ast
  from functools import lru_cache, reduce
  from numbers import Real
  import operator
  import os
  import re
  import numpy
  from matplotlib import _api, cbook
  from matplotlib.cbook import ls_mapper
  from matplotlib.colors import Colormap, is_color_like
  from matplotlib._fontconfig_pattern import parse_fontconfig_pattern
  from matplotlib._enums import JoinStyle, CapStyle
  from cycler import Cycler, cycler
label_desc: Use image node_id 8 for calling a global function with example usage: _validate_pathlike(s) and returns: os, validate_string