A Control Panel is a software tool which is used to handle the content of a hosting account. This can include, but is not limited to, files, e-mails, databases, stats and various operations executed with them. The Control Panel provides a web-based interface to manage these things and everything else related to the web hosting service via different sections where you can access functions through menus and/or buttons. The easier to use a CP is, the easier it'll be for you to control your online presence in its entirety. In the common case, the Control Panel is the Internet hosting account’s back office, while a separate billing account is employed to control payments and domain name registrations - if the company offers that service. Trouble tickets could be handled through the billing account or via a separate system.