The McDonald’s Golden Arches logo stylizes the letter M.
The symbol combines two curved arches into a recognizable monogram for McDonald’s. Its design grew from the large yellow arches installed on early restaurant buildings, where they served as prominent roadside signs as well as architectural features.
When the arches were converted into a graphic mark, the central connection made the shape read as an M. The bright golden color and simple silhouette allowed the logo to remain recognizable from a distance and in many different applications, including signs, packaging, uniforms, and advertising.
The arches therefore have a dual history: they began as physical design elements and became a letter-based corporate logo. They are not intended to represent a W, even though the symbol can look different when viewed upside down or from unusual angles.