A Control Panel is a web-based interface where you can handle different aspects of your presence online. As an example, you can easily create or edit site files, create and check email messages, control databases, check visitor statistics etc. Those things are executed through buttons and menus within an internet browser and the Control Panel could also be called ‘back office’, i.e. the administration area associated with your hosting account. Most of the Control Panels these days will allow you to handle all hosting-related matters, but you will normally need a different system to deal with payments or to get a new domain name in case the company offers domain registrations. Depending on the platform they employ, you may be able to use the billing account to open a support ticket to ask a question or to troubleshoot a problem also, or you may need to use a third system.