What Is a Slot?

A slot is a thin opening, hole, or groove that runs through an object. For example, you can put a postcard through the mail slot in a door. A slot in a computer is an area that stores data. The term also refers to a position in a series or sequence of events, such as an appointment or a job.

The slot property in BigQuery allows you to control how much capacity is available to a query at any given time. When a query’s demand increases, the slot is automatically re-evaluated to ensure that the requested amount of capacity will be available for the query without impacting other users. This is known as dynamic DAG scheduling.

Slots can be defined for both internal and external users with a variety of slot properties. In general, it is recommended that you only use one scenario per slot. This is because using multiple scenarios could lead to unpredictable results if the slots are not configured correctly.

A slot in a casino is a machine that accepts cash or, in “ticket-in, ticket-out” machines, paper tickets with barcodes, and then spins digital reels to rearrange symbols and pay out credits according to the payout table. Bonus features in a slot game may vary but are typically aligned with the overall theme of the machine.

The slot in football is a receiving position that is usually reserved for smaller receivers who can run precise routes and are quick to release from coverage. Slot receivers tend to be quicker and more agile than traditional wide receivers, and they are used to complement more physically robust wideouts on teams that rely on the nickel and dime offense.