Which McDonald's symbol was added to the 1962 logo to suggest an “M”?

The Golden Arches were the McDonald's symbol added to the 1962 logo to suggest an “M.”

The arches originated as large yellow architectural features on McDonald's restaurant buildings. When the company developed a graphic identity, the two arches were combined so their outlines could be read as the initial letter of McDonald's.

This connection between architecture and lettering made the mark especially effective. Customers could recognize the yellow shape on roadside signs even when they could not read the full restaurant name. The symbol also worked across different media, including packaging, newspaper advertisements, uniforms, and later digital designs.

The arches should not be confused with a crown or a generic restaurant emblem. Their significance comes from the early building design and from the way the paired forms created an “M.” The symbol was later refined, but the Golden Arches name remained central to McDonald's branding.