A slot is a narrow opening, especially one in which something may be placed or stored. The word is used often in the context of computer programming: a slot can refer to either a variable or an object that holds other objects, including code and other variables.
Slots are also found in casinos, where the machines that line casino floors have come a long way from the pull-to-play mechanical versions of decades ago. Today’s slots can have up to fifty pay lines, meaning there are dozens of ways to win when the reels stop, and many feature games that play based on how those pay lines add up.
The concept of slots is also used in a different way by computer programmers, who use them to hold other elements of a Web site, such as content. These are called “dynamic slots,” because the contents of them can change depending on events or triggers that happen on a Web page. The content in a dynamic slot is dictated by a scenario, which references a repository item that contains the actual content or by a targeter that specifies where to find the content.
A slot is also the name of a position on a team, or in a game, such as ice hockey or Australian rules football. The player in the slot has the advantage of being close to the puck and has an easier time making a goal. The slot also helps the team defend its own zone better.
