A slot is a place or opening in something, such as the holes on a postage stamp or the slots on a computer disk. A slot can also refer to a position or rank in an organization, military branch, etc. A slot is also the name of a type of slot machine, which is a gambling device that uses reels to display symbols and pay out credits according to a predetermined pay table. A slot can be operated by inserting cash or, in “ticket-in, ticket-out” machines, a paper ticket with a barcode.
In computers, a slot is the operation issue and data path machinery surrounding a set of one or more execution units (also called functional units). A CPU with multiple slots can handle different types of jobs at the same time. The number of available slots is a key factor in the performance of a system.
The most important elements of a slot are the reels, rows, and pay lines. The number of reels varies from machine to machine; some have three, four, or five rows of symbols. When a player presses the spin button, the reels will rotate and stop at random, revealing new symbols. Each reel has a specific symbol for each of its positions. Depending on the game, each symbol can earn a payout if it appears on a winning line. The payouts for each symbol are listed in the paytable on the machine’s face. Many slot games have a theme, and the symbols and bonus features usually match it.
