A sonic boom is the shockwave created when an aircraft or other object travels faster than the speed of sound. Online, short sonic boom clips are commonly edited into memes, gaming montages, and action videos to exaggerate speed and impact. The effect stays popular because it is instantly recognizable and works as a clean, high-energy hit. It is often used in the same kind of edits as a bass drop sound effect, especially when creators want a stronger sense of force without using dialogue.