A slot is a narrow opening, especially one for receiving something, such as a coin in a vending machine or a light in a window. It can also refer to a position in a group or series, such as a time slot on a calendar or a job interview. A person can also slot something into something else, such as a CD into a CD player or a seat belt into a car.
The NFL is increasingly relying on the versatile and speedy slot receiver. These players tend to be shorter and quicker than traditional wide receivers, which requires them to have exceptional route running skills and perfect timing. A good slot receiver can help a team stretch the defense by moving across all three levels of the field, and they can be a huge weapon in the passing game when used effectively.
In computers, a slot (sometimes called an expansion slot) is a narrow opening in the body of a computer that can be used to install a piece of hardware or software. A standard computer comes with a number of slots, usually in the form of closely spaced pinholes that connect to other parts of the motherboard via wires. Additional slots can be added by installing an expansion card that contains the circuitry needed for a specific capability, such as video acceleration or disk drive control.
A computer with a single slot can only support a limited number of expansion cards. As a result, some expansion slots may be filled, forcing the user to install fewer cards or upgrade to a newer computer. However, more recent models have increased the number of available slots to accommodate larger graphics cards and other high-performance components.
The payout percentage of a slot machine is an important factor to consider when choosing a casino online. A high payout percentage means that the machine is paying out winnings more frequently than it is taking in losses. This information is often posted on the game’s rules or information page, or can be found by searching for “payout percentage” on the casino website.
A slot is an area of the ice hockey rink that is not covered by the face-off circle, or goal line. The term can also refer to the location of a player on the ice. If a team is playing in the bottom third of the zone, they are considered in a low slot. If they are in the top third, they are in a high slot. A low slot is considered difficult to defend, while a high slot is an advantage for offenses. In addition, a player in the bottom third of the zone has a greater chance of scoring a short-handed goal. This is because the bottom of the zone is closer to the opponent’s net.