A slot is a position within a group, series or sequence. In a computer, it can refer to an expansion slot, such as an ISA (industry standard architecture), PCI or AGP slots, and also to a memory slot. It can also refer to a position or role, such as a job, a slot in a band or a slot in a rink.
When you are playing a slot machine, the symbols on the reels represent a combination of numbers that the random number generator generates each time you hit spin. The RNG then translates that combination into the symbols you see on the screen. The reels do not know that you have just spun them, they only care that a particular combination of numbers has been generated.
Some people claim that when the reels wiggle, it means the jackpot is about to hit. This is incorrect as each spin is independent of the previous ones and has the same chance of winning or losing.
Before you start playing, it is important to understand how the pay table works. The pay table is the key to understanding a slot machine’s payouts and which bet sizes match each prize. It will also tell you if the machine has any bonus features and what they are. Bonus features can range from free spins to pick-style games, sticky wilds and re-spins. You can find the pay tables through a ’help’ or ‘i’ button on the machine, or ask a slot attendant to explain it to you.