Its light produces to us apparent magnitude 3.12, as such the third-brightest star in the large, fairly dim constellation.

Based on parallax measurement taken during the Hipparcos mission, it is approximately 23.1 parsecs (75 light-years) from the Sun.

The designations of the four constituents as Delta Herculis A, B, C and D, and those of A's components - Delta Herculis Aa and Ab - derive from the convention used by the Washington Multiplicity Catalog (WMC) for multiple star systems, and adopted by the International Astronomical Union (IAU).

The WGSN decided to attribute proper names to individual stars rather than entire multiple systems.

[15] Consequently, the Chinese name for Delta Herculis itself is 天市左垣一 (Tiān Shì Zuǒ Yuán yī, English: the First Star of Left Wall of Heavenly Market Enclosure), and represents the state of Wei (魏),[16][17] together with 33 Capricorni, according to Ian Ridpath version[18] or Phi Capricorni and Chi Capricorni in R.H. Allen's version[19] in Twelve States (asterism).