Native SP - SessionInitiator - target parameter

[Waldbieser, Carl]

I read the docs about the "SessionInitiator" element "target" parameter [1], but I am not really very sure I understand what it means.
My interpretation is that when your browser establishes its initial session with the SP, the SP will somehow record the URL you are supposed to be redirected to after you successfully authenticate with some IdP.  So the flow would be something like:

  1) Visit SP.  Initiate session.
  2) Be sent to IdP to authenticate.
  3) Return to SP, SP verifies that you were authenticated.
  4) SP now redirects you to the URL specified by the target parameter.

Is this even close to correct?  Or am I totally misreading this?  If so, could someone explain what this parameter does do?

Thanks,
Carl Waldbieser
ITS Identity Management
Lafayette College

[1] https://wiki.shibboleth.net/confluence/display/SHIB2/NativeSPSessionCreationParameters