A narrow depression, groove, notch, or opening for receiving something, especially a coin or a letter. Also used figuratively: a position in a schedule or sequence; an assignment or job opening. Compare slit (def 1).
Historically, slots were mechanical devices that paid out winning combinations by spinning reels. The first machines were created by Sittman and Pitt in New York City in 1891, requiring players to insert a coin and pull a lever to spin the reels. The machine would then display the winning combination—often poker hands, but sometimes diamonds, spades, horseshoes, or even liberty bells.
While slot games are most often played in casinos, many people enjoy them from the comfort of their own home. They can be found on mobile phones, PCs, and video game consoles. They can be themed to match specific genres or events, such as sports, music, television shows, and movies. Some even have a storyline to keep the player engaged.
In Web development, a slot is a dynamic placeholder that either waits for content (passive slot) or calls out for it (active slot). In a page, a slot is filled by a scenario using the Add Items to Slot action or by a renderer that specifies its contents. A slot can also use props passed from the parent scope. For more information, see Using slots with scenarios.
