A narrow notch, groove, or opening, such as a keyway in machinery or a slit for coins in a vending machine. A slot may also refer to:

In computer science, a hardware device that allows for expansion of the system by connecting additional components, such as video acceleration or disk drive control. Almost all modern computers have slots, which can be filled with add-on cards that provide new capability without altering the base hardware.

An area of airspace carved out for use by one or more airplanes at times when the capacity of the airport is exceeded, often because of runway throughput or available parking space. These slots may be allocated to airlines on a daily basis or as needed, depending on conditions at the airport. The term also may be used to describe a slot in the schedule of a commercial airline, such as a flight to Heathrow, or an allocation for a particular route managed by EUROCONTROL as part of its air traffic flow management role.

A machine that accepts cash or, in the case of “ticket-in, ticket-out” machines, a paper ticket with a barcode that is scanned to allow the machine to credit the player’s account. The machine then spins reels to arrange symbols in combinations that earn the player credits based on the paytable and other factors, such as bonus rounds. The symbols vary with the theme of the game, but classic symbols include fruits, bells, and stylized lucky sevens. Many slots have a specific theme, or series of themes, that dictate the symbols and bonus features that appear on the machine.

Psychologists have found that playing video slots can lead to gambling addiction, even among players who previously engaged in other forms of gambling and have no history of problems. The reason, they say, is that the rapid pace of play on video slots leads to a high rate of impulse decisions, which in turn can trigger an addictive cycle of betting and losses.

The term slot is also sometimes used to refer to a machine’s payout rate, which is the percentage of money returned to the player based on the game’s odds and design. Some games have fixed payout values that are based on the number of coins bet per line; others use a variable multiplier to increase or decrease the chances of a certain result occurring, such as the likelihood of a jackpot being awarded.

In the sport of football, the slot receiver or slot corner is a position that is between the wide receiver and the strong safety. This position is most important in pass-heavy offenses, where the slot receiver must be able to split coverage and break open to gain yards after the catch. A weak safety or corner can cover both the deep and intermediate levels of the field, but is less suited to covering fast deep receivers. This makes the slot receiver or corner a valuable member of any offensive or defensive team.