A Control Panel is a web-based user interface via which you can manage various aspects of your presence online. As an example, you could create or edit site files, set up and check e-mail messages, handle databases, check visitor stats and so on. These things are done through buttons and menus within a web browser and the CP can also be called ‘back office’, i.e. the administrative area associated with your web hosting account. Most of the Control Panels out there will enable you to handle all hosting-related matters, but you will commonly need a different system to deal with payments or to get a new domain name if the company offers domain registrations. With respect to 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 an issue too, or you may have to use a 3rd system.