A slot is a narrow opening, usually a hole, in a machine or container that can receive something, such as a coin or a card. A slot in a schedule or program is a time when an activity can take place.
In slot machine games, a win occurs when symbols matching a winning combination line up on a payline and the player wins credits based on the payout table or schedule. The symbols vary depending on the theme of the game, with classics including fruit, bells and stylized lucky sevens. In addition to the slot interface, many slots have a pay window that displays how much the player can win and the payout rate.
The word slot comes from the Middle Low German schott (“bolt” or “door-bolt”), of uncertain origin, probably cognate with Dutch schlot. It is also related to the Latin sleutum (“slit”) and to the French slodde (a track or trail).
In computer technology, a slot is a space in the motherboard of a personal computer that can accept an expansion card with circuitry that provides a specialized capability, such as video acceleration or disk drive control. Almost all desktop computers come with a set of expansion slots. Some slots are designed for a single type of card, while others are multi-slot compatible. Vention mounting tables are built with t-slot aluminum extrusions that allow for the attachment of custom hardware or equipment to the table top. The size of t-slots can be adjusted to meet the specific needs of a project.