docstr: encode a list of tokens a return bytes. We use bitpadding to make sure the encoded bits fit in bytes.
docstr_tok: ["encode","a","list","of","tokens","a","return","bytes",".","We","use","bitpadding","to","make","sure","the","encoded","bits","fit","in","bytes","."]
code: def encode(self, iter: tp.List[str]) -> bytes:
      """
      encode a list of tokens a return bytes. We use bitpadding to make sure the encoded bits fit in bytes.
      """
      a = bitarray()
      for token in iter:
          code = self.get_code(token)
          if code is None:
              if self.unk_word is None:
                  raise Exception(
                      f"unknown token {token} cannot be encoded."
                  )
              else:
                  token = self.unk_word
          a = a + self.get_code(token)
      return self._pad(a).tobytes()
  
imports: import re
  import typing
  from collections import Counter, deque
  from dataclasses import dataclass
  from bitarray import bitarray, util
  from fairseq.data import Dictionary
label_desc: Use image node_id 4 for calling the HuffmanCoder obj's underlying member method code with example usage: obj.encode(iter) and returns: self