What is the official name of McDonald's yellow M-shaped symbol?

McDonald's yellow M-shaped symbol is officially known as the Golden Arches.

The name comes from the pair of large yellow arches incorporated into early McDonald's restaurant buildings. Their shape was designed to attract motorists and make the restaurants recognizable from a distance, especially along roads and in drive-in settings.

The two arches were later combined visually into an M-like corporate emblem. Although many people simply call the mark the McDonald's logo, Golden Arches is the established name for the symbol and its underlying branding concept.

The Golden Arches should not be confused with Speedee Service, which was McDonald's original operating system, or McDonaldland, the fictional advertising setting. Those terms belong to different parts of the company's history. The arches are the enduring visual identity that connects the restaurant chain across countries.