A slot is an opening in a container, a machine, or something else that you can insert something into. A slot can also refer to a specific time or date when an event will occur. You can use slots to schedule events or meetings in advance. You can also use them to sign up for an activity. You can even reserve a time slot for an interview or test.

A computer hardware term for a position in a queue to process instructions or data. Slots are common in very long instruction word (VLIW) computers and work on the same principle as a pipeline. A slot is usually associated with one or more execution units and a single operating system image.

In online casinos, a slot is a category of games. There are many different types of slots, including video poker and table games. In order to play a slot, you must register and deposit money into your account. After that, you can choose the game and click on the “spin” button to start playing. The machine will then display how much you have won or lost.

The pay table for a slot is a chart that displays how much you can win if you line up certain symbols on a payline. Typically, these tables are shown visually and in bright colors to make them easier to read. They also match the theme of the slot.

You can find these charts in the information panel at the top of the slot machine, or on its help menu. Most slot machines have a paytable that shows how much you can win based on the combination of symbols that appear on the reels. The table will also show what the minimum and maximum bets are.

Most slot machines have a themed design, and the symbols and bonus features usually align with that theme. The theme of a slot can influence the overall feel of the machine, and this is often what attracts players to a particular game. The payouts are also determined by the theme of a slot.

Air traffic controllers manage the flow of aircraft into and out of congested airports using a system called slots. Airlines apply to an airport for a slot at a given time, and the airline with the lowest request is awarded the slot. With the coronavirus crisis and air traffic at a record low, slots are becoming increasingly valuable. The highest recorded price for a landing slot was $75 million paid by Oman Air to Kenya Airways in 2016.