The two yellow arches that became McDonald’s most recognizable brand symbol are called the Golden Arches.
They began as architectural features on McDonald’s restaurant buildings, where their height and bright color helped motorists identify the restaurants. The arches were designed for the 1953 franchised restaurant in Phoenix and were later adapted into a standalone corporate logo.
In 1962, Jim Schindler joined the two arches into an “M”-shaped mark. That combination made the symbol useful on signs, packaging, advertisements, and restaurant materials even when the full building design was not visible.
“Golden Arches” is the established name, while “Golden M” is only an informal description and not the canonical branding term. The arches are therefore both a piece of restaurant architecture and a major example of corporate visual identity.