What Is a Slot?

A slot is a narrow opening, usually for receiving something, such as coins or a paper slip. It is also a position in a series or sequence, as a time slot for a meeting or a job interview. See also hole, slit, aperture, window.

a narrow opening for receiving something, such as coins or slats of wood. (computing) a position, as in a queue or schedule; a time or place for an activity: I booked a flight with a one-hour slot.

In computer science, a space on a disk or other storage medium in which a file can be stored. The term is also used to describe a position within an operating system or program, or a segment of memory where information is stored, such as a hard drive or RAM.

A narrow opening, especially a channel in a board or other flat surface that is designed to hold electrical conductors and components. The term may also refer to a position in a game of chance or a machine for conducting such games. The slots in a slot machine are called reels, and the spaces between them are known as pay lines. A slot can have up to 50 pay lines, and the symbols that land on each will determine if and how much a player wins.

In the era of online casinos, slots are a popular form of entertainment and can be found at nearly any casino. To play a slot, a person must first create an account with the casino and deposit funds. Then, he or she will choose the slot game that he or she wants to play and click the spin button. The digital reels with symbols will then stop spinning and, if a winning combination is formed, the player will receive a payout.

Some people believe that if a slot machine hasn’t paid out in a while, it is “due.” This belief is wrong because slots are programmed to have different probabilities of winning. The longer a slot goes without paying out, the less likely it will be to hit. Also, the location of a slot in a casino is important. Casinos want the machines that pay out frequently to be at the ends of aisles so more people will see them.

a position in a group, series, or sequence: a job slot; the slot for a new employee in the department; the last available ticket to a concert. (in aviation) an allocated, scheduled time and place for an aircraft to take off or land, as authorized by an airport or air-traffic authority: They had to wait for the next available slot.

A t-slot is a type of aluminum extrusion with a groove on its underside that can be fastened to a table top or other surface. T-slots are often used to mount equipment or hardware. They can also be affixed to the bottom of a cabinet or other piece of furniture, making them a convenient way to add shelves.