code: def _eval(val, onts, mdb_safe):
      
      if isinstance(val, six.string_types):
          val = val.strip()
          if not val:
              return None
          else:
              return val
      elif isinstance(val, dict) or isinstance(val, SamlBase):
          return to_dict(val, onts, mdb_safe)
      elif isinstance(val, list):
          lv = []
          for v in val:
              if isinstance(v, dict) or isinstance(v, SamlBase):
                  lv.append(to_dict(v, onts, mdb_safe))
              else:
                  lv.append(v)
          return lv
      return val
docs: Convert a value to a basic dict format
      :param val: The value
      :param onts: Schemas to be used in the conversion
      :return: The basic dictionary