In football, a slot receiver is a wide receiver that lines up between and slightly behind the other wide receivers, and may also play running back. Slot receivers are often smaller and quicker than other wide receivers, as they need to run a variety of routes that require quick cuts and evasion to avoid defenders. In recent years, teams have rediscovered the value of the slot receiver and are increasingly relying on them in their offenses.
In a computer, a slot is a position where information can be stored and retrieved. A slot is typically a rectangular area on a disk or other medium that contains a number of data elements. For example, a disk drive has a large number of slots that contain different types of data. Each data element can be accessed by reading the addresses of the associated bits.
The term slot can also refer to a number of other concepts:
A flight slot is a time on the air traffic control system’s schedule that allows an aircraft to fly at an airport at particular times. Airlines are allocated slots based on the amount of runway capacity available and the need to manage traffic flow. It is now twenty years since central flow management was introduced in Europe, and it has led to huge savings in delays and fuel burn.
A slot is also a narrow notch, groove, or opening, such as the keyway in a piece of machinery, or a slit for a coin in a vending machine. The word is also used to describe a position in a series or sequence, such as the positions of players in a game of golf.