A hex editor (or binary file editor or byte editor) is a type of computer program

that allows for manipulation of the fundamental binary data that constitutes a
computer file. The name 'hex' comes from 'hexadecimal': a standard numerical
format for representing binary data. A typical computer file occupies multiple
areas on the platter(s) of a disk drive, whose contents are combined to form the
file. Hex editors that are designed to parse and edit sector data from the physical
segments of floppy or hard disks are sometimes called sector editors or disk
editors.
So Basically any file can be edited by a hex editor. By using this software you can
change options, texts, parameters, text fields and other things of a program. Or
configuration files.

Computer games can be cheated with this tool. As we know the games contains
many configuration files in it, which defines many parameters, stages, levels and
so on. And surprisingly they are defined in a simple text and their values which
can be easily edited by a hex editor. By doing this you can bypass levels and also
reduce the level of difficulties.

For example: Game_level:1_diff=2

here the difficulty level for level one is 2, which can be manipulated with a hex
editor.

You might be thinking, why use hex editor and why not a simple text editor?
The answer is simple because a hex editor is a hexadecimal based editor.
It targets the hex values not the simple text only, and its ideal for any type of file
not just a simple text. This is why hex editor can replace normal text editor but a
notepad can’t replace a traditional hex editor.
Hex editors are normally free, You can Google it and download it for free.