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

The yellow M-shaped symbol associated with McDonald’s is called the Golden Arches.

The arches began as architectural features on McDonald’s restaurants rather than as a purely graphic logo. In 1952, architect Stanley Clark Meston designed the restaurant’s distinctive building, which included two large yellow arches visible from the road. The design helped attract motorists and made the restaurants easier to recognize.

The arches later became part of McDonald’s corporate identity. In 1962, Jim Schindler combined the two arches into the stylized form resembling an “M” that became the company’s logo. The symbol outlasted changes to restaurant buildings, advertising slogans, packaging, and mascots.

The Golden Arches are often described simply as McDonald’s “M,” but “Golden Arches” is the established name. The phrase also became a cultural shorthand for the company’s worldwide restaurant network.