The arches in McDonald's most recognizable Golden Arches symbol are yellow.
The bright yellow color helps the emblem stand out against roadside surroundings, restaurant façades, packaging, and advertising. Combined with the two curved forms, it gives the mark a highly visible shape that can be recognized quickly from a distance.
The arches originated as architectural elements on McDonald's buildings in the 1950s. The company later combined them into an “M”-shaped logo, turning the restaurant design into a flexible brand mark used across many media.
Red is also strongly associated with McDonald's, especially in restaurant signs, packaging, and advertising backgrounds. That can cause uncertainty in color questions, but the color specifically identified by the name Golden Arches is yellow.