cPanel debuted in 1996, a product of Speed Hosting, Webking, VDI and cPanel, LLC at various points in its history. It is written in Perl, and it operates on Linux, Android and iOS.

Effectively, the cPanel company provides a graphical user interface, or GUI, that is a web hosting control panel.

In fact, cPanel is just a shortened way of saying "control panel." The entire point of the program is to give webmasters a simplified, straightforward way to manage their website.

cPanel is an incredibly popular interface among webmasters. This is because it readily displays important metrics that let you know how your website is performing. Additionally, it provides access to numerous modules that put you in control of most of the operations that are critical to your website's functionality and success.

CPanel is a familiar program for the vast majority of experienced webmasters. It's efficient and intuitive, making it an excellent choice for the beginning website owner. However, it also is powerful, providing a multitude of advanced capabilities for those users who have a sophisticated knowledge of website management.

Nonetheless, cPanel is not the only web hosting control panel. If you find that you're not comfortable with the interface, then it may be wise to seek an alternative.

CPanel enables you to perform all sorts of operations quickly and easily. This is the place to be if you want to build a new database for your content management system. When it's time to back up your website, you'll go straight to the cPanel.

Installing WordPress, uploading files and configuring emails all are accomplished at the cPanel as well.

cPanel also handles a multitude of other functions, but true beginners just need a roadmap for getting started. Now that you've had the basic tour and understand how cPanel can be critical to the success of your website, it's time to get down to the nuts and bolts.

Let's start with the most basic of operations: Logging in to cPanel for the first time.

Now that you've selected a web host and chosen the right package, it's time to log in to your account so that you can start building your website.

Most web hosts allow new users to choose a username and password or PIN. Alternatively, you may receive an email from your web host that contains a temporary username and password.

Sign in to your web hosting account. If you have not already chosen your own unique username and password, take a moment to update this in your preferences or settings.

Next, look for the cPanel link on your web hosting dashboard. Frequently, this link will be located on a tab that is labeled "My Accounts," "Advanced" or "Preferences." If you have Namecheap cPanel login, then details are a part of the Quick Start Guide.

If you aren't able to locate the link, contact customer support at your web host for assistance.

If you need assistance with anything related to this web application, then you might want to consider consulting any of the cPanel tutorials in their website. They feature an incredible amount of videos that can teach you everything you need to know.

After entering your cPanel login, you'll be taken to the dashboard. Typically, it looks something like this:

New users will find that navigation is easy. The top-right corner of the screen shows your username, any alerts or messages, a logout link and a search bar. You may find the search bar particularly useful as it allows you to streamline the navigation process.

cPanel has a second search bar at the top of the page that provides an alternative format for search results. Which search bar you use depends upon personal preference.

A left-hand sidebar features a shortcut to the home screen as well as shortcuts to statistics, the dashboard where you'll find the most commonly used links and user management where you can manage the users on the cPanel account.

If there's a particular section on the home screen that you don't typically use, just click on the minus sign on the top-right corner of each section. This minimizes the section, and you only have to click on the plus sign to restore it.

It's also possible to drag-and-drop your favorite sections so that they are at the top of the home screen.

You can not only change the style of your cPanel interface in the Preferences module but also you can update your password and manage the account users.

While you may be the only person who can upload or delete items, someday a partner or employee may need to access the website's cPanel.

These icons are an envelope for the user's email account, a truck for an FTP client and a disk icon indicates whether or not the user has access to web disk services.

You probably just purchased a domain. This means that you now have to add this domain to your cPanel account. In the Domain module, click "Addon Domains".

Here, you'll enter your domain name without "www." The subdomain and "Document Root" boxes will automatically fill when you enter data into the "New Domain Name" box.

Click "Add Domain" to complete.

If you need to edit or remove a domain, you'll find that functionality on the same screen. Just visit the "Modify Addon Domain".

Because cPanel automatically gives your new website a subdomain, you may want to redirect this subdomain to take visitors directly to your main website. To do this, visit the "Subdomains" link in the Domains module.

Click on the "Manage Redirection" link to ask cPanel to redirect any visitors to your subdomain to your main website.

You also have the option of creating subdomains. For example, most websites have blogs. You can make your blog a subdomain with the address "blog.yourdomain.com."

Using the same subdomains screen, visit the "Create a Subdomain" section. Name your subdomain, then click on "Create".

In the Email module, you'll find numerous tools to set up and manage email accounts.

Click on the "Email Accounts" link to create your new email. In the "Email" box, enter your name or a generic title like "info". In the "Domain" box, use the drop-down box to choose your domain. Then, choose a password.

Use the "Mailbox Quota" field to set limits on how much server space this email account can occupy.

Click "Create Account", and you're done.

When you want to send or receive an email, you must set up your email account with an email client such as Outlook, Apple Mail or Gmail. Alternatively, you may use webmail.

To use an email client, navigate to the "Email Accounts" tab, then click on "Access Webmail." Scroll down to "Mail Client Automatic Configuration Scripts" where you'll see a list like this:

Then, locate your email client of choice, click on it and follow the instructions for installation.

Alternatively, you can click the "Access Webmail" link, and then select one of the available webmail applications. Choosing one of these options as your default immediately takes you to your inbox.

Click on "Spam Filters" to ward off junk mail. Many web hosts automatically configure spam filters to reject most unwanted emails. In fact, your choices may be limited in this module.

However, you may want to double-check the setting for the "Automatically Delete New Spam" option. This may seem like a streamlined option, but it can be a mistake. Filters sometimes categorize a good email as spam. If your filter is set to automatically delete anything that's spam, you might miss out on some critical messages. Leave this option off or turn it off if your web host allows you to.

Whenever it's time to upload files or backup your website, the Files module is where you'll go. Click on "File Manager" to see all of the files associated with your website.

Use care when in this module. Any changes you make, like an accidental deletion, can be impossible to undo.

Otherwise, this is a straightforward interface. To add a new folder, click on the "+ Folder" link. Name the file, give it a home and click on "Create New Folder".

To upload a file, such as an image, click on the "Upload" button. You can drag and drop the appropriate file or browse for it on the local drive.

If you have an FTP client, you may be able to access it here. Create a new one by clicking on the "FTP Accounts" link. Use the form to fill in your login, domain and directory information. Include a password, and consider keeping the quota on the FTP account set to unlimited so that you can work with large files.

For users of WordPress cPanel access is indispensable. Content management systems like WordPress use databases to store everything like blog posts and user data.

If you'll be using a content management system, then you'll have to create at least one database. Most users will most frequently work with MySQL Databases.

To create a new database, click on the "MySQL Database Wizard" link. Name the database in the field, then create database users, assigning each one a password and privileges. The privileges include selections like alter, create, delete, event and index. You may select "All Privileges" if this is appropriate.

If you go back to the home screen and then click on "MySQL Databases" in the Database module, you can rename or delete each of the databases. This also is where you can make changes to the users and their privileges.

One of the major advantages of using cPanel is the ability to install software with a single click. All you have to do is go to the Software module. Click on the "Solfaculous Apps Installer".

You'll have hundreds of options from which to choose. Use the column on the left-hand side of the screen to narrow down your choices to specific items.

To install any of these options, click on it. Read the information about the program, and then click "Install Now" if you want to download it.

You may have to give Softaculous additional information before installation is complete. For instance, you may have to select the version that will be installed. It's always best to go with the latest one to ensure that you get the best available version.

You also may need to choose the domain to which the download will be added. If you're downloading a content management system, then it's wise to choose a relatively complex admin username and password so that hackers can't break into your website.

Now that you've put so much work into your website, you want to ensure that you protect your data with a back-up. If you have ever dealt with a PC that crashed and burned, leaving you with multitudes of missing files, then you understand how critical this step is.

Your web host may handle backups automatically, which means you don't have to do this step. Check with your web host about cPanel support to determine whether or not you are responsible for performing backups.

If you do want to back up your website, go to the Files module and select the "Backup Wizard" link. Next, click the blue "Back Up" button to begin the operation. Choose whether you want to do a full back up of all files or a partial backup of selected items.

Download the back up when it is complete.

In the Metrics module, you can find statistics that reveal your website's performance. Click on "CPU and Concurrent Connection Usage" to discover how much your website is using in terms of machine resources. The "Bandwidth" button shows how much bandwidth you're using while the "Visitors" option tells you the number of people who have viewed your website.

Use the statistics that you find here to help you determine how efficient and effective your website is. This may help you to make alterations that guide even more visitors to your site.

When it comes to interfaces for managing websites, cPanel is one of the best. Although what you're seeing could be slightly different, the modules and how you use them as explained here remains to be the same with other themes.

cPanel features a straightforward layout that isn't too overwhelming to novices yet also boasts plenty of advanced capabilities. Consider choosing a web host like InMotion Hosting or Siteground that gives you cPanel access to manage your website.