What McDonald's brand symbol consists of two yellow arches forming an M-like shape?

The Golden Arches are McDonald's brand symbol consisting of two yellow arches that form an M-like shape.

The symbol began as architecture rather than as a conventional logo. McDonald's restaurants built in the 1950s used large yellow arches to make their roadside locations visible. The company later transformed the architectural feature into a graphic emblem that could be reproduced across many kinds of media.

The modern logo was introduced in 1962 and is associated with designer Jim Schindler. Its simple silhouette made it effective at small sizes on packaging and signs as well as at large sizes on restaurant buildings. The arches became one of the most recognizable symbols in global commercial branding.

The Golden Arches are often casually called the McDonald's “M,” but their historical name refers to the pair of arches. Speedee was an earlier mascot, and the McDonald's wordmark is the company name rendered in lettering. These are related elements of the brand, but they are not the same symbol.