A narrow opening or groove, typically in the side of something. You can put coins into a slot machine’s coin slots, and letters and postcards through the mail slot at the post office. A slot is also a position in a series, sequence, or hierarchy.

The part of a computer or video game that shows a reel with winning combinations of symbols. A slot can also be the place where you insert a cartridge that has software or hardware additions for a particular device, such as speech synthesis.

Sports A player in the NFL who lines up closer to the quarterback than wide receivers, so that he can be used on passing plays as well as running ones. This position has grown in popularity as the league shifts to a more pass-heavy game. Examples of good slotbacks include the recently retired Darren Sproles and Larry Fitzgerald, as well as the active Christian McCaffrey.

A machine that accepts cash or paper tickets with barcodes that have been inserted into a slot on the machine (either physical or virtual, on a touchscreen). The machine activates when a button or lever is pushed or pulled. The machine then spins a series of reels, and if a winning combination appears, the player earns credits based on the paytable. Most slots have a theme and specific symbols, such as fruit, bells, and stylized lucky sevens.

The rules for a particular slot game, which may include the minimum and maximum stake value, how to win a jackpot, and what bonus features are available. Usually, the rules are shown as small tables that contain different colors to make them easier to read.