A Control Panel is a web-based interface where you can manage different aspects of your presence online. For example, you could set up or edit site files, create and check e-mail messages, handle databases, check visitor stats etc. These things are executed via buttons and menus inside a web browser and the Control Panel may also be called ‘back office’, i.e. the admin area associated with your web hosting account. Most Control Panels available on the market will permit you to handle all hosting-related matters, but you will normally need a different system to take care of payments or to get a new domain name when 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 a problem also, or you may have to employ a 3rd system.