A slot is an opening in a piece of equipment, such as a computer, that you can insert printed circuit boards. These are also called expansion slots and allow you to expand the capabilities of a computer. A slot is different from a bay, which is an area in a computer where you can install disk drives.
A slot can also refer to a position in a group, series or sequence. For example, a player’s rank in a poker game can be described as their slot. It’s important to understand how to read a slot pay table because it contains a lot of useful information that can help you play the game more effectively.
Most slot games are based on a theme, and the symbols and bonus features are aligned with that theme. Many have card numbers from nine through ace, and others use symbols like fruits, bells and stylized lucky sevens. Some have a special feature, like a Wild symbol, or a Scatter symbol that activates a bonus round.
A slot can also refer to a specific position in an airplane’s wings or tail surface. For instance, an air gap between the main wing and an auxiliary airfoil can be referred to as a slot. A slot can also refer to a specific function, such as a navigation light or a flap that opens to improve airflow over the wing. In the NFL, speedy receivers like Tyreek Hill are often used as slot receivers because they can help disrupt routes at the line of scrimmage and force blitz-happy teams to cover them with safety help over the top.