A Control Panel is a web-based user interface using which you can handle various aspects of your online presence. As an example, you could set up or change website files, create and check e-mail messages, control databases, check visitor statistics and so on. Those things are performed using buttons and menus in a browser and the Control Panel could also be called ‘back office’, i.e. the administrative area associated with your hosting account. Most Control Panels available will permit you to handle all hosting-related matters, but you'll often need a different system to handle payments or to get a new domain in case the company offers domain registrations. Depending on the platform they utilize, you may be able to use the billing account to open a support ticket to ask a question or to diagnose a problem also, or you may have to employ a 3rd system.