A Slot is a narrow opening, notch, groove, or slit that receives things. The word also has several broader definitions. For example, a slot in an interior copy desk is occupied by the chief copy editor. In birds, a slot between the tips of the primaries allows air to flow smoothly over the wings. Slots are also found in aircraft, where they open along the leading edge to increase air flow.
The term “Slot” was first used in the 1970s to describe an area of a computer where the processor connects to the motherboard. It was introduced to make it easier for users to replace a computer’s processor. The Intel Corporation released the first slot in 1997. The AMD Corporation came out with Slot A, which is incompatible with Slot 1. In 1999, Intel introduced Slot 2, which was a larger slot for the Pentium II processor. However, today, only a select few manufacturers make slots for new computers. These have been replaced by sockets, which are far less difficult to work with and can save on labor costs.
The term “slot” also refers to an opening in a computer’s motherboard that is used for expanding the capabilities of the computer. This expansion card is a special device that fits into the slot. A computer’s expansion slots are also called “expansion boards”. In addition to slots, the computer’s motherboard includes a series of “bays” for installing disk drives. The bays and slots are both located on the front or back of the computer.