html_url,issue_url,id,node_id,user,created_at,updated_at,author_association,body,reactions,performed_via_github_app,issue
https://github.com/pydata/xarray/issues/3991#issuecomment-617375423,https://api.github.com/repos/pydata/xarray/issues/3991,617375423,MDEyOklzc3VlQ29tbWVudDYxNzM3NTQyMw==,5821660,2020-04-21T19:45:02Z,2020-04-21T19:45:02Z,MEMBER,"@lamorton You can look at this in two different ways. 
First, try to use `dtype=""|S9""` on both occasions, since this will apply the zero-termination which is needed for the string to be interpreted correctly by netcdf (IIRC).

```python
import h5py
f = h5py.File(""error_demo.h5"",mode='w')
f.create_dataset('name',shape=(),dtype=""|S9"",data=np.array([b'f(Pt,TE)'],dtype='|S9'))
f.close()
for i in range(20):
   xr.load_dataset(""error_demo.h5"")
```
```
<xarray.Dataset>
Dimensions:  ()
Data variables:
    name     <U8 'f(Pt,TE)'
```

Second, use `backend='h5netcdf'` to read it sidestepping netcdf:

```python
import h5py
f = h5py.File(""error_demo.h5"",mode='w')
f.create_dataset('name',shape=(),dtype=""|S8"",data=np.array([b'f(Pt,TE)'],dtype='|S8'))
f.close()
for i in range(20):
    ds = xr.load_dataset(""error_demo.h5"", backend='h5netcdf')
```
```
<xarray.Dataset>
Dimensions:  ()
Data variables:
    name     |S8 b'f(Pt,TE)'
```

From your expectations It seems that the zero-padding is the culprit, since the output of the 'h5netcdf' backend doesn't quite fit.  
Unfortunately I do not have links at hand with further comments on string handling differences between netcdf/hdf5. There are quite some...
","{""total_count"": 0, ""+1"": 0, ""-1"": 0, ""laugh"": 0, ""hooray"": 0, ""confused"": 0, ""heart"": 0, ""rocket"": 0, ""eyes"": 0}",,604210297