McDonald’s yellow M-shaped symbol is commonly called the Golden Arches.
The design developed from the physical arches incorporated into early McDonald’s restaurant buildings. Architect Stanley Clark Meston created the restaurant design used for the McDonald brothers’ San Bernardino operation and later locations. The arches were initially architectural features rather than a standalone corporate mark.
As McDonald’s expanded, the arches became increasingly useful as a roadside identifier. The company eventually stylized them into the familiar double-arched logo, allowing customers to recognize a restaurant from a distance. The logo’s shape is often read as an M for McDonald’s, but its historical name comes from the building arches.
The Golden Arches should not be confused with the separate restaurant sign designs that preceded the modern logo. McDonald’s has changed the surrounding lettering and colors over time, while the yellow arches have remained the central visual element.