What is the name of McDonald’s yellow M-shaped architectural symbol?

McDonald’s yellow M-shaped architectural symbol is called the Golden Arches.

The arches began as real architectural features on McDonald’s restaurants in the 1950s. Architect Stanley Clark Meston incorporated two large yellow arches into the design of the San Bernardino-based chain’s new restaurant buildings.

The arches later became a graphic emblem rather than merely a building feature. In 1962, designer Jim Schindler combined the two arches into the familiar M-shaped logo, giving McDonald’s a highly recognizable mark that could work on signs, packaging, and advertising.

People sometimes use “the golden arches” as a general nickname for McDonald’s, but the phrase specifically refers to the company’s signature arches. Their worldwide recognition helped make the symbol one of the most famous examples of corporate branding.