Ice cream truck chimes have been used for decades to let neighborhoods know a mobile vendor is nearby, turning a simple melody into a universal signal for a treat. Online, that familiar alert was shortened into a standalone sound effect shared on soundboards and in edits. It spread because almost everyone recognizes the cue instantly, even without seeing a truck. Today it appears in memes, family videos and notification packs as shorthand for summer, childhood excitement and the sudden promise of ice cream.