Setting up layer properties of a view object
<p>At times i have seen people setting up layer properties for a view object like this:</p>

<pre><code>[self.view.layer setBorderWidth:1.0f];
[self.view.layer setBorderColor:[UIColor colorWithRed:.486 green:.486 blue:.486 alpha:1.0f].CGColor];
[self.view.layer setShadowColor:[UIColor whiteColor].CGColor];
</code></pre>

<p>Can you please explain the importance of setting layer properties. Not able to understand what a layer is in a UIView...</p>
