A slot is a thin opening or groove in something. A slot can be a hole in a door or window, or the space where a coin is inserted into a slot machine. A slot can also refer to a position on a team or in a game. The word is often used to describe a position in football, where the slot is the spot between the X and Z receivers. It can also refer to a computer part, such as an expansion slot.

The most common use of the word is in reference to a position on a football team. The slot is the player who lines up closer to the center of the field than a typical wide receiver, and is normally asked to run routes that go across the middle of the field, where they may be targeted by linebackers more often than cornerbacks. Slot receivers are typically small and shifty, and have a lot of speed. They must be able to get open quickly and catch the ball with ease, and they also need to be able to take hits and break tackles.

Another meaning of the word is a position on a computer, usually an empty memory space that can be used to store files or programs. The term can also refer to a position in an online game, where the slot is a place where players can be placed on the virtual board. The player’s slot can be modified during the course of the game to reflect their progress and performance.

When it comes to slot machines, the pay table is a document that lists how many credits a player will earn if specific symbols line up on the machine’s pay line. Typically, the pay table is listed above or below the area containing the reels on the machine’s face, but it can also be located within a help menu. It is important to review the pay table before playing a slot, as it can help you understand what combinations are most likely to result in a win.

In BigQuery, the slot is a name for a container that holds a portion of the query’s dynamic DAG (database aggregate) that can be used at any time. When the capacity demands of a query change, BigQuery automatically re-evaluates the available slots and re-allocates or pauses them as needed. This ensures that, given fair scheduling, any query will have access to the slots it needs at any point in time.