What does = +_ mean in JavaScript

What does the = +_ operator do in JavaScript?

Sample code:

hexbin.radius = function(_) {
   if (!arguments.length)
       return r;
   r = +_;
   dx = r * 2 * Math.sin(Math.PI / 3);
   dy = r * 1.5;
   return hexbin;
};

r = +_;

• + tries to cast whatever _ is to a number.
• _ is only a variable name (not an operator), it could be a, foo etc.

Example:

+"1"

cast "1" to pure number 1.

var _ = "1";
var r = +_;

r is now 1, not "1".

Moreover, according to the MDN page on Arithmetic Operators:

The unary plus operator precedes its operand and evaluates to its operand but attempts to converts it into a number, if it isn't already. [...] It can convert string representations of integers and floats, as well as the non-string values true, false, and null. Integers in both decimal and hexadecimal ("0x"-prefixed) formats are supported. Negative numbers are supported (though not for hex). If it cannot parse a particular value, it will evaluate to NaN.

It is also noted that

unary plus is the fastest and preferred way of converting something into a number