A slot is a narrow aperture or groove. A slot may also refer to:
A position or time period authorized by an airport or air traffic control for a planned aircraft operation. Air traffic slots are often regulated to prevent overcrowding at busy airports and to allow for efficient use of the airport’s resources.
Computers inside modern slot machines assign a probability to each symbol on the reels. For this reason, when two paying symbols appear on a payline and the third blank space is just above them, it can give the impression that the next spin will result in a win. This effect is called “slot illusion” and has been the subject of many studies and papers.
In ice hockey, the slot is a prime area in front of the opposing goal that affords a good opportunity to score a wrist shot with little chance for deflection or interference from the defenders. The high slot is the best place for a defenseman to take a slap shot and the low slot is where wingers and centers can shoot a one-timer with a clear view of the net.
A slot is also a name for a component in a computer, such as an expansion slot for an ISA, PCI, or AGP card or a memory slot on a motherboard. The concept of slot can also be applied to business processes, such as scheduling meetings or establishing deadlines for project objectives. Using a slot-based method of scheduling can support collaboration among teams and provide employees with the information they need to meet their goals successfully.