Yellow is the traditional color used for the Golden Arches in McDonald's branding.
The bright yellow arches grew from the color of the physical arches on McDonald's roadside restaurants. Against red backgrounds and outdoor signs, yellow made the symbol highly visible to passing motorists. The contrast became a practical design choice as well as a memorable part of the company's visual identity.
The word “golden” describes the arches, but it does not mean the logo is normally rendered in metallic gold. Standard McDonald's branding has traditionally shown the M as a vivid yellow, often paired with red. Some restaurants and advertising materials use alternate treatments, including monochrome or subdued versions, but yellow remains the classic color.
The color also helps distinguish the Golden Arches from the red field often seen behind them. That red-and-yellow combination became strongly associated with McDonald's restaurants, packaging, signs, and advertising around the world.