A slot is a hollow place in a computer, such as a slat or a bar, which receives a piece and slides in and out. The term slot is also synonymous with deer track. A bloodhound will follow the slot of a wounded deer. The word slot was first used in the late 14th century. Slots are no longer used in new computers. Instead, the processors are attached to sockets.
The word slot is a noun, originally meaning “to cut or provide with a slot.” The sense of “dropping a coin in a slot” dates back to 1888. The modern sense of “fitting something into a slot” dates from the 1960s. The oldest meaning of slot is referred to the area between the faceoff circles. Some airports also refer to the area as the scoring area. If you’re not sure if you’ve seen a slot, take a look at the definition below.
The technology behind a slot machine is based on a random number generator, or RNG, which cycles through a series of thousands of numbers every second. The symbols on the reels correspond to these numbers. During the early years of slot machine development, machines were relatively simple, using simple math. With three reels and 10 symbols, the maximum theoretical payout was 1000 times the player’s bet. Ultimately, the random number generator determines the outcome of each game.