Based upon parallax measurements from the Hipparcos astrometry satellite,[12][13] it lies at a distance of about 380 light-years (120 parsecs) from the Sun.

At this size, it is emitting about 950 times the luminosity of the Sun from its outer envelope at an effective temperature of 5,160 K,[2] giving it the yellow hue of a G-type star.

[24][25] It was confirmed as a variable star with a range of about 1/100 of a magnitude by Gabriel Cristian Neagu using data from the TESS and Hipparcos missions.

[14][28] This name, less commonly written Rastaben, derives from the Arabic phrase ra's ath-thu'ban "head of the serpent/dragon".

[31] Consequently, the Chinese name for Beta Draconis itself is known as 天棓三 (Tiān Bàng sān, English: the Third Star of Celestial Flail).