A slot is an area within a machine where coins are deposited.

A video slot usually has representations of reels spinning on a screen and a pay table showing the different payouts for landing matching symbols or combinations. This can also include the jackpot and bonus features if applicable. Some slots also feature a HELP or INFO button that will explain how the game works.

Slot is a word that has been around for centuries, although its exact origin is unknown. Its first recorded use was in English in 1560 and was written as slad. The term is still used today, and in many other languages as well. It is also a common element in casino terminology, as well as in online gaming.

The word is most often used to refer to the amount of time an aircraft can take off or land at a busy airport when air traffic control limits their operations due to limited runway capacity and other constraints. This is a form of central flow management, which has saved airlines substantial amounts of money by reducing their fuel burn and delays caused by overly aggressive flying patterns at very congested airports. It is also an important component of the flight schedules at many European airports, where it has been in use for over twenty years. It is expected to become even more widely used in the near future as other airports struggle with similar congestion levels.