nodereference.module excerpt - i quite don't understand the "error_field" part

  1.      case 'process form values':
  2.         if ($field['multiple']) {
  3.           // if nothing selected, make it 'none'
  4.           if (empty($items['nids'])) {
  5.             $items['nids'] = array(0 => '0');
  6.           }
  7.           // drop the 'none' options if other items were also selected
  8.           elseif (count($items['nids']) > 1) {
  9.             unset($items['nids'][0]);
  10.           }
  11.  
  12.           $items = array_values(content_transpose_array_rows_cols(array('nid' => $items['nids'])));
  13.         }
  14.         else {
  15.           $items[0]['nid'] = $items['nids'];
  16.         }
  17.         // Remove the widget's data representation so it isn't saved.
  18.         unset($items['nids']);
  19.         foreach ($items as $delta => $item) {
  20.           $items[$delta]['error_field'] =  $field['field_name'] .'][nids';
  21.         }