The Happy Meal was McDonald's first national children's meal with a toy, launched in 1979.
The meal combined a child-sized portion with a drink, a side item, and a small toy or other promotional item. Its packaging and collectible promotions made the meal a major part of McDonald's family-oriented branding.
A test version appeared earlier in select markets, but 1979 is the widely cited launch year for the national Happy Meal in the United States. This distinction explains why some accounts mention an earlier date while describing the same product's development.
The Happy Meal also connected restaurant food with licensed entertainment and character marketing. Over time, McDonald's changed the menu contents, packaging, and toy policies, but the name remained one of the company's most recognizable branded product names.