Short code options

I have a self hosted real estate website – running a plugin that supplies and updates listings from our national mls provider.

The short code options allow me to display listings in grid, list, map format and specify based on property criteria, ie price range, location etc.

Among the short code options are:

wrap – This option allows you to set the wrap element of the property.

before – This option allows you to set a before render element.

after – This option allows you to set a after render element.

I have no idea what these would do or why I would want them (ie seo potential? Changing display some how?)

Any thoughts, examples etc would be helpful.

My apologies if this post is in the wrong thread or otherwise inappropriate.