The title compound, C15H14N2O2, an azo dye, displays a trans configuration with respect to the N=N bridge. The dihedral angle between the aromatic rings is 0.18 (14)°. There is a strong intramolecular O—H⋯O hydrogen bond. Geometrical parameters, determined using X-ray diffraction techniques, are compared with those calculated by density functional theory (DFT), using hybrid exchange–correlation functional, B3LYP and semi-empirical (PM3) methods.