A slot is a narrow opening in something that allows it to fit. In Australia, the word is used to describe a position in a schedule or program: “She has a great slot on her show”; “He booked a time slot for his appointment.” A slot is also the name of a computer hardware device that stores a file system or a part of a memory chip.

A slot machine has a random number generator that assigns different probabilities to each symbol on every reel. When a machine receives a signal — anything from the handle being pulled to a button being pushed — the RNG sets a sequence of numbers and the reels stop on those symbols.

Most slot machines have pay tables that list their symbols, payouts, prizes, jackpots and other information. Often, these information tables include a HELP or INFO button that walks the player through the various options and features of the game.

Slots are a type of dynamic item that acts as a placeholder and waits for content (a passive slot) or is called by a renderer to fill itself with content (an active slot). A slot’s content is dictated by either the Add Items to Slot action or a targeter. For details about how slots and scenarios work together to deliver content to the page, see Scenario.