A Control Panel is a web-based user interface using which you can manage numerous aspects of your web presence. As an illustration, you may create or edit site files, set up and check emails, manage databases, check visitor stats etc. Those things are done via buttons and menus within an internet browser and the CP may also be called ‘back office’, i.e. the administration area associated with your web hosting account. Most of the Control Panels these days will enable you to handle all hosting-related matters, but you'll usually need a different system to take care of payments or to get a new domain name when the company offers domain registrations. Based 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 troubleshoot and fix an issue also, or you might have to employ a 3rd system.