What is the meaning of +1 on items?

[Robai]

Please tell me which is better.
The effect seems the same (they both give +5 life), but the value of item with "+1" is TWICE lower!
What is the meaning of "+1"?
Please explain.

[Lorien_the_First_One]

Short answer...ignore it.

Long answer..Each thing you add to an item has a theoretical value under D&D rules. the +1 you see there adds up the value of the bonuses on the item. In theory, the bigger the plus, the better the item, but since some combos are better than others, it doesn't really work that way.

[tgun]

It is also used to determine the minimum level from what I have seen but other than that what Lorien said.

[Qzipoun]

Also, "Rugged Belt" is a named item, they don't follow the normal rules.

Those two items are identical, except for value to sell to a vendor (edit: and hardness)

[Kindoki]

The only time you will care about those numbers is when you are looking for trash weapons to power empty Shroud power shards.