A slot is a dynamic placeholder that either waits for content (a passive slot) or calls out for it (an active slot). The contents of a slot are dictated by a scenario using an Add Items to Slot action or by a targeter. Slots can also be mapped to a renderer, which determines how the content in the slot will be displayed.
A slot machine is a mechanical device that displays reels and determines winning combinations by examining the frequencies of symbols on each of them. The original machines used a fixed number of stops on the physical reels, but modern slot machines use electronic components and random number generators to determine outcomes. A typical slot machine display includes a screen that shows the reels and a lever that a player can pull to initiate play. Modern slot machines also have touch-screen controls and LEDs to provide feedback on the outcome of a spin.
There are many different types of slots, with some requiring players to bet on multiple lines. The paylines determine the types of prizes and bonuses that can be won. Some machines allow players to choose their number of paylines, while others automatically wager on all available lines. Some slots even have special symbols that can trigger jackpots, free spins, or mini games.
A regular expression is a set of rules for matching strings, and can be used to define a custom slot type in Dialog Engine. A common use case for this is to match flight codes in a travel bot, where the expression
Another way to create a custom slot type is to use an existing one as a template. This can be done in the Slot Types page in the left pane of the Dialog Engine Studio. Click the slot that you want to edit, and then click the Edit Slot Type button. You can use the default settings or select a slot type from the list and then modify its properties.
You can also add synonyms for a slot type to let Dialog Engine recognize more than one word or phrase for that slot. For example, the slot type value “New York” can be mapped to the words Big Apple and NYC. To enable this, select the Allow Synonyms checkbox and then enter the alternate names in the field.
A slot type is a set of criteria that defines what information a bot will look for in an utterance. When a slot is identified, it is mapped to a slot type to help the bot understand what to do with that information. Slot types are important because they allow the bot to respond to a user with the most appropriate content for that conversation. This helps to keep conversations flowing smoothly and avoids unnecessary context switches. In addition, it is recommended that you only use one slot type per utterance, as this helps to prevent confusion when the same slot type is used in multiple scenarios.