What Is a Slot?

A slot is a dynamic placeholder that either waits for content (passive slot) or calls out to a renderer (active slot). Slots are used in conjunction with scenarios and work with them to deliver content to the page.

A thin opening or groove, such as a slot in the back of a computer case. Slots are usually found on motherboards and can accommodate expansion cards such as ISA, PCI, or AGP slots. They can also be used to hold memory or other hardware devices.

The process of selecting the right slot for a given task, such as when loading a program into a computer. The slot is selected based on the system’s requirements and available resources.

The chance of winning a jackpot in a casino game. A slot’s probability of payout is determined by the number of symbols that line up on a payline and the payout amount specified in the machine’s rules. Some slots have multiple paylines, while others feature a single horizontal line of symbols.

The term “slot” can also refer to the position of a specific aircraft in an airport’s air traffic control system, which keeps takeoffs and landings spaced out so that the airport’s controllers can safely manage the flow of planes. For example, if an airline requests to land at a certain time at an airport, the controllers may assign that flight a landing slot based on whether other airlines have requested the same slot and how often it has been used in the past.