The system is a spectroscopic binary whose primary is classified as an orange K-type giant with a mean apparent magnitude of +4.08.

Due to brightness changes caused by the ellipsoidal shape of that object, the system is also an RS Canum Venaticorum-type variable star.

Its brightness varies from magnitude +3.92 to +4.14 with a period of 17.77 days, and its spectrum shows strong and variable Ca II H and K lines.

[4] The parallax of the D star has been measured by Gaia proving its distance to be much greater than Zeta Andromedae, probably a distant red giant.

Consequently, the Chinese name for ζ Andromedae itself is 奎宿二 (Kuí Sù èr, English: the Second Star of Legs).