In McDonald's branding history, what is the name of its famous yellow “M” symbol?

McDonald's famous yellow “M” symbol is called the Golden Arches.

The name comes from the large yellow arches used in early McDonald's restaurant architecture. Those arches were designed to attract motorists and make the buildings easy to identify from the road.

Over time, the two architectural arches were simplified into a graphic emblem resembling the letter M. This transformation helped McDonald's use the symbol on signs, packaging, advertisements, uniforms, and other brand materials.

The Golden Arches are often treated as if they began as a purely modern logo, but their origin is architectural. The symbol therefore connects the company's visual identity to the design of its early roadside restaurants. The phrase “Golden Arches” remains a common nickname for McDonald's itself.