How does attack rating compare to damage in Diablo 2?

Question

I have two bows for my companion, one having higher damage (100, but in poison, so it takes effect slowly) and 5% life steal (with other stuff) and another with lower damage and 7% life steal (with other stuff) AND +attack rating based on the character, which currently is more than +1000.

Now I don't really know how attack rating works and if there is a cap or the +1000 is going to waste or not, but somehow that number is so big, it makes me want to keep the lower-damage-higher-rating bow for my companion.

Can somebody explain to me how attack rating is valued against damage? Am I doing a good thing by choosing the higher rating one?

Answer

The attack rating determines your chance to hit (or miss) a target. The higher it is, the better. In late game, +1000 isn't all that much.
It doesn't directly influence your damage output; but high damage is useless if you can't land a hit.

Your to-hit chance will always be at least 5% and at most 95%. And it only pertains to physical attack (i.e. not to spells).

Edit: If I recall correctly, you can hover your mouse over the Attack rating number to see your chance to hit the last enemy you attacked.

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