Well I don't have the time to decently answer that one sorry, I'd need a book
But I will direct you to the art of electronics by horowitz & hill for a good explanation.
Basically, it is a component which doesn't like to have the current through it changed. It will store energy in a magnetic field, and when you try to change the current going through it, it will use that energy to create a voltage that tries to oppose your change. Of course, it will never win because it can't store infinite energy. But it will still try!
Very common in frequency dependent circuits like filters.