It is a very small fish, of less than 5-6 cm, with a large head and eyes located in a superior position. It has two dorsal fins, the first with bony radii. The body is light brown with dark spots.

It is distributed along the coastal areas of the Atlantic and the Mediterranean. In Catalonia it is found in the coastal wetlands and estuaries of the main rivers.

It is a euryhaline species that prefers shallow sandy bottoms where it burrows to avoid predators.. Adults usually migrate to the sea to breed, but they can also breed in the lagoons or estuaries where they live. It feeds on small invertebrates.

The common goby is in regression due to habitat degradation.