What are McDonald’s famous yellow arch symbols officially called?

McDonald’s famous yellow arch symbols are officially called the Golden Arches.

The arches began as architectural features on McDonald’s early restaurants, where large yellow curves helped make the buildings visible from the road. Over time, the physical structures became a simplified corporate symbol.

The familiar arches logo was designed in 1962 by Jim Schindler. Its two curved shapes were combined into an “M,” linking the symbol to the first letter of McDonald’s while retaining a connection to the restaurants’ architecture.

The Golden Arches are often casually described as “the yellow M,” but that wording misses their historical origin. They are not merely a letterform created in isolation; they evolved from the restaurant’s roadside design and became a major element of McDonald’s global branding.