Slots in OpenHAB 3
Slot receivers act more like a shield
Slot receivers are the fastest receivers on the field and often operate in areas of high traffic. Their speed allows them to avoid being crushed by defenders, and they often catch balls when their vision is blocked. However, the slot receivers also need to be able to outrun their defenders and absorb a lot of contact.
They get information about state changes in other widgets
Slots get information about changes in other widgets when the state of one changes. They are the basic building blocks of many UIs in openHAB 3, including Personal Widgets, Main UI Pages, and Sitemaps in UI and HABPanel dashboards. There are two kinds of slots: optional and default. Each slot has a name and can be added or removed from other widgets. Extensions can also be reordered within a slot.
They have unique roles and traits
Slots are specialized types of wide receivers who can be called upon to run the ball. The slot receiver is typically handed the ball after the ball snap and has the speed and agility to outrun the defense. They also often block for wideouts and running backs and help provide protection on outside run plays.
They are a connection dedicated to one user on a server
There are different types of slots on a server, and each of these slots has its own specific purpose. Some slots are shared by multiple users, while others are reserved for one specific user. A single server may have up to four slots available.
They can be invoked by any component
Slots are a type of component that accepts content from other components and renders it for the user. A slot can render several blocks of content and can be called multiple times by different components. Slots can also be called without the second argument. These slots are passthrough slots, rendering content that was passed through. The second argument is required if the slot is to render a component. Otherwise, the component name must be passed.