A slot is an authorization to take off or land at an airport during a specific time period. It’s a way to balance the number of flights at busy airports and prevent delays from too many planes trying to land or take off simultaneously.

Slot is a football position that’s gaining popularity in the NFL. The position is responsible for lining up slightly in the backfield, a few steps behind the line of scrimmage. This allows them to do a lot of different things and makes it tougher for defenses to defend.

This is why some of the best wide receivers in the NFL – like Tyreek Hill, Cooper Kupp, and Juju Smith-Schuster – spend much of their time in the slot. Despite the versatility of the position, it takes time to master and develop chemistry with the quarterback.

Unlike outside wide receivers, the slot receiver must have excellent hands and speed to excel in their route running. They also need to be precise with their routes, as they often play smaller and are a bit more vulnerable to coverage than outside receivers.

Lastly, slot receivers must be strong blockers because they are frequently asked to play in the middle of the field and protect running plays against defenders from the secondary. In addition, they must be able to run a variety of different routes – from the inside and outside, short and deep, as well as run the ball on running plays.