A slot is a narrow opening for receiving or admitting something, such as a coin or letter. It may also refer to a position in a schedule or program. The job of covering the slot receiver, an important defensive back position in football, requires a great deal of athletic ability and training.

A slot in a casino or other gambling establishment is a designated area in which a gamer can place bets. Depending on the type of machine, players insert cash or, in “ticket-in, ticket-out” machines, paper tickets with barcodes. The machine then activates the reels, which spin and stop to rearrange symbols. If a winning combination is formed, the player earns credits based on the paytable. Symbols vary from machine to machine, but classics include fruits, bells and stylized lucky sevens. Most slots have a theme, with bonus features and payouts aligned with that theme.

In aviation, a slot is an authorization to take-off or land at a particular airport during a specific time period. It is a key tool used in air traffic management to limit the number of aircraft attempting to fly at busy times, and prevent repeated delays caused by too many flights trying to take off or land at the same time.

In computing, a slot is an expansion card that allows additional hardware to be installed on a computer motherboard. The term is also used to describe a position within a system that is reserved for a specific function, such as the storage of data or software programs.