A slot is a reserved capacity for the allocation of resources such as time, disk space or other hardware resources. In the case of a computer, slots are defined by the hardware architecture. For example, a processor has several slots that can be assigned to different types of workloads. The number of slots is limited by the capabilities of the chip, the motherboard and the operating system.

A casino’s slot machines are eye-catching, towering contraptions with flashy video screens and quirky themes. But despite their attention-grabbing visual appeal, experts warn that slot machines can be a waste of money.

There are many pervasive myths about slot that mislead players into making poor decisions. For instance, many people believe that a machine is “due” to hit after a big jackpot. While it is good practice from a money management standpoint to change machines after a jackpot, the odds of hitting another jackpot are still the same as they were before the first.

Some players also believe that high-volatility slots are more likely to pay out than low-volatility ones. However, this is false because the random number generator inside the machine does not take into account the outcome of the previous spins. The only way to predict the outcome of a particular spin is to see how often it has won over many, many spins. A simple test is to look at the return-to-player percentage and variance of a slot on a casino’s website.