A slot is a dynamic placeholder that either waits for content to be added (passive slot) or can be called by a scenario using an Add Items to Slot action or by a renderer that specifies the content to be displayed in the slot (active slot). Slots work with scenarios and renderers.

A narrow opening, especially in a door or window. Also: A place or position in a series or sequence, or in a hierarchy or organization.

The slots of a computer or network are places where information can be stored. It is important to know the different kinds of slots, their size, and what they can do for you.

In a slot machine, a symbol or combination of symbols that line up on the pay table triggers a payout. The payout amount is determined by the probability that each symbol will land on a particular reel. Modern slot machines have microprocessors that assign a different probabilty to each symbol on every spin.

Psychologists Robert Breen and Marc Zimmerman have studied the link between playing video slot machines and gambling addiction. They found that players reach a debilitating level of involvement in gambling three times more rapidly when playing slot machines than in other forms of gambling.

When cutting a slot, plunging is often recommended over interrupted cutting as it eliminates vibrations and heat-up problems. However, plunging usually does not provide a good surface finish for the walls of the slot and requires special tooling to manage chip evacuation.