What is the Sonic cheat code?

Excuse me, could you possibly enlighten me on the matter of the Sonic cheat code? I've heard whispers about its existence but I'm not entirely sure what it entails. Is it a special sequence of buttons or commands that unlocks hidden features or bonuses within the Sonic video game franchise? If so, could you please provide a detailed explanation of its functionality and perhaps even share a few examples of how it can be utilized? I'm genuinely curious to learn more about this intriguing aspect of Sonic gaming.