What term is used for McDonald’s yellow “M” logo?

McDonald’s yellow “M” logo is called the Golden Arches. The name comes from the large yellow arches used in the design of early McDonald’s restaurant buildings and signs.

The arches began as architectural features rather than as an abstract letter. Their distinctive shape helped motorists identify restaurants from the road, and the company eventually combined the two arches into the stylized form now recognized worldwide. The logo became one of the most familiar symbols in commercial branding.

The Golden Arches are sometimes described simply as McDonald’s “yellow M,” but that wording misses their architectural origin. The design was not named for a crown or a generic gold emblem. Its historical meaning comes directly from the restaurant arches that inspired it.