In a slot machine, the paytable displays the symbols that are arranged in combinations to trigger payouts. The symbols vary depending on the type of slot machine and its theme. Many slots come with special symbols that can activate bonus features, allowing players to win even larger payouts. The paytable can also indicate the odds of hitting a particular combination on a reel.
There are many different types of slot machines available, including traditional mechanical slots and video slots. Some machines are configured with multiple paylines, while others have a single payline. In either case, the number of possible winning combinations is limited by the total number of symbols on each reel. As technology advances, slot manufacturers have developed electronic components that allow them to weight certain symbols more heavily than others. This can lead to the appearance of specific symbols more frequently, resulting in higher pay-outs.
The word “slot” derives from the Middle Low German noun sleutana, a compound of Old High German sleutana (“bolt”) and the Proto-Germanic verb *slutana (“to lock”). This is related to the English word castle, which is cognate with Dutch castle and German Schloss.
A slot is an area in a machine where you can insert cash or, in some “ticket-in, ticket-out” machines, a paper ticket with a barcode. The machine then reads the ticket and activates the reels to rearrange them. If a combination of symbols matches the pre-programmed odds, you win credits based on the payout table. Most slot games have a specific theme, and the symbols used in the game are typically aligned with that theme.
A specialized table slot, the periodic slot is used to hold data that repeats at regular intervals, such as monthly evaporation coefficients for a reservoir. The period and interval of a periodic slot are configurable using the View, then Configure Period menu. In addition, a periodic slot can be set up to Interpolate or Lookup, in which case it can display only the portion of the date that changes between each row.
The table slot can be used to store any type of table, such as a curve (2-Dimensional) or surface (3-Dimensional). In addition, the table slot can include one or more unrelated sets of data that may not have any relation to each other.
A scalar slot is used to hold a numeric value computed from a user-defined arithmetic expression. When you select this slot, it opens in its own Slot Dialog where you can edit the expression. The selected slot is also shown in the Slot Viewer, although its menu options are not enabled. A scalar slot can be docked or undocked from the Slot Viewer. Similarly, expression slots and Series Slots with Periodic Input open in their own Slot Dialogs when you select them.