Desktop on Ubuntu. What is it for?

Okay. Honest question. Not being sarcastic, not being condescending. Honestly, apart from showing wallpaper, what the ubuntu (gnome?) desktop is for? You can create folders on it. and that's it? No shortcuts? No widgets? No program access? there is a setting for desktop icons but what icons are we talking here? create new icons on bottom right. How are these icons created? nothing is clear.