A Control Panel is a web-based interface where you can control various aspects of your web presence. For example, you may set up or edit website files, create and check email messages, handle databases, check visitor statistics etc. Those things are carried out via buttons and menus within a browser and the CP can also be called ‘back office’, i.e. the admin area associated with your hosting account. Most of the Control Panels available will enable you to manage all hosting-related matters, but you will usually need a different system to take care of payments or to get a new domain in case the company offers domain registrations. Based on the platform they employ, you can be able to use the billing account to open a support ticket to ask a question or to diagnose a problem as well, or you may need to employ a 3rd system.