A Control Panel is a software tool used to handle the content of a hosting account. Including, but is not limited to, files, e-mail messages, databases, stats along with other operations executed with them. The CP offers a web-based interface to manage these things and anything else relevant to the web hosting service through different sections where you can access features through buttons and/or menus. The less complicated to use a Control Panel is, the easier it'll be for you to handle your presence online altogether. In the typical case, the Control Panel is the web hosting account’s back office, while an independent billing account is employed to handle payments and domain name registrations - if the company offers that service. Trouble tickets could be dealt with via the billing account or via a separate system.