The Golden Arches became McDonald's corporate logo after the two arches were joined in 1962.
The arches originated as architectural features on McDonald's restaurants, where they helped buildings stand out to passing motorists. The 1962 logo transformed those separate structural elements into an interlocking graphic mark that could appear on signs, packaging, advertising, and corporate materials.
The logo is distinct from the restaurant buildings themselves and from the earlier Speedee mascot. It is also distinct from McDonaldland, the fictional advertising world introduced in 1971. These elements worked together, but each served a different branding function.
Over time, the Golden Arches became recognizable even without the McDonald's name. That visual independence helped make the symbol one of the most widely recognized marks in international commerce.