In hockey, the slot is a rectangular area toward the blue line. The slot is a valuable spot for a wrist shot, as players have a clearer view of the goal. A slot also provides a great angle for defenders to lay big hits on small wingers. The term slot is related to the Greek word sleutana, which means “to scuttle” and the German word Schloss.

In the 1980s, slot machine manufacturers began to incorporate electronics and program machines to weight specific symbols more heavily than others. This increased the number of possibilities for winning while reducing the odds of losing. In addition, symbols appeared only once on the player’s reel, though they could occupy several stops on several reels. This made the maximum payout of the game possible only when a player made the maximum bet.

There are several types of slots for computer processors. Some are called “expansion slots” and are found on motherboards. Other types of slots include memory slots and PCI slots. A motherboard’s definition of slots includes an example of all these. The name’slot’ is sometimes used as a synonym for “expansion slot.”

A slot receiver has an advantage over boundary receivers because their route tree is more versatile. They can go straight downfield or inward. In the NFL, slot receivers are becoming more common as players like Branden Cooks and Tyreek Hill stretch defenses vertically. Slot receivers are also effective in the catch-and-run game, as they can run short routes in the route tree, slants, and quick outs.