code: def element(self, inp=None):
          
          if inp is not None:
              # Workaround for missing __complex__ of numpy.ndarray
              # for Numpy version < 1.12
              # TODO: remove when Numpy >= 1.12 is required
              if isinstance(inp, np.ndarray):
                  return complex(inp.reshape([1])[0])
              else:
                  return complex(inp)
          else:
              return complex(0.0, 0.0)
docs: Return a complex number from ``inp`` or from scratch.