[PLUG] Purpose of init daemon?

[Alex Daniloff]

> 
> No. init is the parent of all processes.
> 

That is what all links on the web say. 
What does it mean to be a parent of all processes?
How is it different if I start a process as a user? 
I'm looking for the full description of init functionality,
man init provides no information I'm looking for.
Could somebody please give me a hint where to find full info
on init functionality.

Thanks,

Alex