What is the function of a slotted spoon in cooking?

A slotted spoon is a kitchen utensil with a shallow bowl and slots or perforations in its head, used for straining liquids from cooked food. It enables the removal of solids from a cooking liquid without pouring the liquid out of a vessel, which is particularly useful when the solids (such as meats or vegetables) are of a similar density to the liquid and would require a long time to surface on their own.