A Control Panel is a web-based user interface through which you can manage numerous aspects of your online presence. For example, you can easily set up or change website files, create and check emails, handle databases, check visitor statistics and so on. Those things are done using buttons and menus inside a web browser and the CP can also be called ‘back office’, i.e. the administration area associated with your website hosting account. Most Control Panels these days will enable you to control all hosting-related matters, but you'll commonly require a different system to manage payments or to get a new domain 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 diagnose an issue also, or you may have to employ a 3rd system.