What is a Slot?
A slot is an area in a machine that accepts coins. The slot can also be used to trigger bonus features. Slots are a feature that is available in many online casino games, including video slots. The slot rules may vary between games, but most of them include a pay table that lists the odds of winning and other important information. The pay table may also explain the rules of bonus features, such as free spins and sticky wilds.
The word slot is derived from the Latin for “bar, bolt.” It also means a narrow opening into which something else can be fitted. Originally it meant the space in a machine that was reserved for a coin to be inserted, but by 1908 it had acquired its other senses. It is also the name of the job of chief copy editor at a newspaper (see slot (def 2)).
In computer programming, a slot refers to an operating system concept in very long instruction word (VLIW) computers that defines a relationship between an operation in an instruction and the data path machinery that executes it. This is similar to the concept of a pipeline in dynamically scheduled machines, but with explicit control over resources.
In professional football, a slot receiver is a type of wide receiver who has limited routes but often finds himself open due to the alignment of opposing defensive players. They are typically shorter and quicker than traditional wide receivers, and they are more likely to be targeted by defenses on passing plays.