See the links I posted in Related Links to view photos to see what the Balck and Yellow Spider looks like in photos.
It sounds like you may be referring to the Argiope aurantia, commonly known as the black and yellow garden spider. This spider is known for its distinctive black and yellow stripes on its body and is commonly found in gardens across North America. They are harmless to humans and play an important role in controlling insect populations.
Banana spider
The Orb-weaver spider is a fairly large garden spider found abundantly in Oklahoma. They can be identified by their black, white and yellow body and legs as well as the spiral or zipper-like arrangement of prey-catching threads in their webs.
i saw a spider just like that and i squished it (hehehehe)but i dont know what kind of spider it is.
The spider you are describing sounds like a "marbled orb-weaver" spider (Araneus marmoreus). They are commonly found in the United States and have distinctive black and yellow checkered legs with two yellow spots on their abdomen. They are not considered dangerous to humans and are beneficial for controlling insect populations.
Possibly some species of gasteracantha or micrathena.
The black and yellow garden spider is a black- and yellow-bodied spider whose back is marked with white. The arachnid in question may be found throughout Canada and the United States of America. It numbers among the most recognizable of garden arachnids.
I think it's actually called the black & yellow garden spider.
The Black Widow Spider has either a yellow, red, or orange hourglass, but sometimes can look like a dot. Links: http://mysite.verizon.net/vzer75kc/
Orb Weaver
Only black widows have hourglasses on their backs... You should probably be careful
Is it a smiley face crab spider? I usually go to www.bugguide.net for my bug questions. Just type yellow spider in the search and look through the pictures. Sounds like a garden spider. Non poisionous and has a zig zag white mark in its web.