What is a web control panel? Why does it matter to me when signing up for a web hosting account?
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Definition:
Web hosting control panels are software packages that are installed on the web server your account is hosted on. The web control panel gives the web hosting customer much more control over his web hosting account. By utilizing the built-in features of the web control panel, you will be able to add and remove email accounts, set up FTP accounts, change passwords, add or remove MySQL databases, read your web statistics, install scripts, read web email and much more.
When searching for a new web host, ask the potential candidates (web hosts) to see a demonstration of the web control panel they use or if they have screenshots and a feature list available. There are many different types of web control panels available today and it's always best to choose the one that best suits your needs. If you are moving from one host to another, it might be a good idea to look for one that offers the same web control panel. If you like the control panel, this step will save you a lot of time and hassle.
Most web hosts offer some sort of a control panel in these days. I am still very surprised that there are companies out there, who do not offer this kind of a service.
Most web control panels are very graphical and easy to use. Once you get used to one, it's hard to go back. One web control panel that is used heavily in the industry is the "CPanel".
