A Control Panel is a web-based user interface where you can handle numerous aspects of your presence online. For instance, you can create or change website files, create and check e-mail messages, control databases, check visitor stats etc. These things are performed through buttons and menus within an internet browser and the CP could also be called ‘back office’, i.e. the administrative area associated with your website hosting account. Most Control Panels these days will permit you to manage all hosting-related matters, but you shall usually need a different system to deal with payments or to get a new domain name when the company offers domain registrations. With respect to the platform they use, you may be able to use the billing account to open a support ticket to ask a question or to resolve an issue as well, or you might have to use a third system.