A slot is a narrow opening in something, often a machine or container. A slot can also refer to a period of time when an activity will take place. For example, you might book a flight with a specific time slot.

In computers, a slot (also called an expansion slot) is a set of closely-spaced pinholes on the motherboard that are designed to accept an add-on card that provides specialized capability, such as video acceleration or disk drive control. Almost all desktop computers come with a set of expansion slots. A slot is also a term used in card games to refer to a position in the deck that allows a particular card to be played at an early opportunity.

Slot receivers are the key to many offensive play styles that are utilized by modern teams, including jet sweeps and slant routes. They are able to run precise routes that complement the other receivers on a team and help confuse the defense. Slot receivers are also important blockers on running plays and can make huge contributions to the success of pitch plays and end-arounds.

During the game, the slot receives the ball from the quarterback on passing plays, primarily in an effort to create open space for other wide receivers to work into. On running plays, he is also an essential blocking receiver on the edges of the field for sweeps and slant runs. Despite their importance, they are at a higher risk of injury than other receivers due to the fact that they are closer to the middle of the field and thus more likely to be hit from different angles by defensive backs.

A casino slot is a machine that allows players to insert cash or, in “ticket-in, ticket-out” machines, paper tickets with barcodes into a designated slot on the machine and activate it by pressing a lever or button. The reels then spin and, if a combination of symbols forms a winning line, the player receives credits according to the pay table. Symbols vary by machine and can include classic icons such as fruit, bells, and stylized lucky sevens. Most slot games have a theme that influences the design of the symbols and other bonus features.

In addition to the coin slots and the credit meter, most slot machines feature a display that shows how many coins are being wagered per spin and, on video slots, how much each coin is worth. Some machines offer the option to choose how many paylines to bet on while others automatically wager on all available lines. In addition, some machines may have a special display that indicates that change is needed, hand pay is requested, or there is a problem with the machine.