A Control Panel is a web-based user interface where you can manage different aspects of your world-wide web presence. As an example, you may create or modify website files, create and check emails, manage databases, check visitor stats and so forth. These things are done using buttons and menus inside a browser and the CP may also be called ‘back office’, i.e. the admin area associated with your hosting account. Most Control Panels these days will allow you to handle all hosting-related matters, but you'll often need a different system to control payments or to get a new domain name when the company offers domain registrations. With respect to the platform they employ, you could be able to use the billing account to open a support ticket to ask a question or to diagnose an issue too, or you may have to use a 3rd system.