In computing, a slot is an empty or unoccupied region on a computer’s motherboard or other hardware component where an expansion card is placed. A slot can also refer to the position in a sequence or series of events, for example, a time slot on a radio or TV program. The word slot is derived from the Middle Low German word sluta, meaning bolt or lock. It is a cognate of German Schloss (“lock, castle”) and the English word hole.

In video games, a slot is the vertical row of symbols that appear on a reel, which spin after a player places a bet and activates the machine’s lever or button. Most slot machines have multiple paylines, and a paytable that describes the winning combinations of symbols and their payouts. Symbols vary by game, but classic symbols include fruit and stylized lucky sevens. Many slot games have a theme, and the symbols and other bonus features are aligned with that theme.

A slot is a position in a group, series or sequence, and is often referred to as an order of precedence. The term can also mean a specific place in an organization or hierarchy, for example, a manager’s or director’s position. A slot can also be a position in a tournament or competition, for instance, a tournament for a sports team’s regular season roster.

There is a common belief that slot machines are “due” to hit. This belief is based on the fact that a machine has gone long periods of time without hitting, and therefore must be due to hit soon. However, the odds of a machine going long without a win are actually very low. For this reason, casinos strategically place their most profitable machines near the end of the aisles where they can attract the most customers.

When playing a slot machine, the most important thing to remember is that the random number generator, which assigns each possible combination of symbols to a specific reel, is continuously running dozens of numbers every second. Each time a signal is received (either from the button being pressed or, in ticket-in, ticket-out machines, from a barcode being scanned), the random number generator sets a new number and the reels stop on that combination. This happens countless times per second, so the chances of someone else getting the same exact combination in the same split-second are extremely remote.

In riverWare, a slot is an evaluation of an expression using the RiverWare Policy Language (RPL). Expression slots can contain simple expressions or complex logic and functions. Since they use RPL, they are very powerful and can be used for a variety of purposes. They can be used to perform dimensional analysis, and they may also store data values in units other than the default unit type. They can be used in either Lookup or Interpolate mode. Integer indexed slots can be used in iterative MRM mode and are functionally equivalent to regular time series slots in the Slot Viewer and System Control Table (SCT).