A slot is a narrow aperture or groove in which a part can be inserted, typically one that is cut into a piece of wood or metal. The term may also refer to:
A machine used for playing games of chance, such as poker or roulette. It has a reel, which spins when a button is pressed or a handle is pulled. The game’s payout depends on how many matching symbols land on the pay line. Some slots have multiple pay lines; others feature bonus levels and jackpots.
In computer science, a memory location or disk space that can be assigned to store a file. A slot is often a portion of the main memory, but it can be a separate cache, disk drive, or other type of storage device. A cache is especially useful for storing frequently used data, such as pages from Web browsers or program source code.
The space in a computer where an application is loaded and executed. A CPU’s main memory is divided into different caches, each of which has its own size and number of slots. Each of these slots can be assigned to store a different application.
An allocated time and place for an aircraft to take off or land, as authorized by an airport or air-traffic control authority. A slot is also an allocation of resources in a pool such as capacity-based or on-demand pricing.
If you’ve ever been stuck at the gate at an overcrowded airport, trying to squeeze past a long line of people waiting for boarding, you know the frustration of waiting for a flight with just enough slots for everyone who needs to fly. For years now, European air traffic controllers have used a system called slot management to reduce congestion and the amount of fuel that is burned by planes sitting on the runway waiting for the green light to go ahead.
If you’re at a casino and see that someone has just won a huge amount on a particular slot, don’t assume the machine is “due.” A machine is never due to hit; the odds are always against it. The most effective strategy is to look for machines that show recent wins: the cashout amounts are displayed next to the amount of credits in the machine, so you can see if it’s worth playing. This method works even better if you’re playing online: video reviews of new slots sometimes include the game designers’ target payback percentages. If you see a high percentage, it’s likely that the game will be a good fit for your budget and gaming style.