What short name is commonly used for McDonald’s yellow arch symbol?

McDonald’s yellow arch symbol is commonly called the Golden Arches.

The arches began as architectural features on McDonald’s restaurants in the 1950s. The original buildings used large yellow arches at the sides of the structure, making the restaurants easy to recognize from the road. Over time, the two arches were combined visually into the familiar “M” shape used as McDonald’s principal symbol.

The term “Golden Arches” refers to the brand symbol itself, not simply to any yellow letter M. It became a widely recognized shorthand for McDonald’s and is often used in writing about the company’s global expansion and cultural influence.

A common misconception is that the symbol began only as a graphic logo. Its history is architectural first: roadside building design supplied the distinctive shape, which was later adapted into corporate identity and signage.