Which McDonald's symbol was created by combining two restaurant arches into a stylized letter M?

The McDonald's symbol created by combining two restaurant arches into a stylized letter M is the Golden Arches.

The arches began as physical yellow structures on McDonald's restaurant buildings. Their shape was later adapted into a compact logo, allowing the design to identify the company even when no full restaurant façade was visible.

The phrase “Golden Arches” refers both to the architectural features and to the resulting brand symbol. This dual meaning is why the term appears in discussions of McDonald's restaurants, logos, and corporate identity.

The arches are not the same as Speedee, the company's earliest mascot. Speedee represented fast service, while the arches became the enduring visual mark of the McDonald's brand.