Panel vs. Board — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman & Fiza Rafique — Updated on April 27, 2024
A panel refers to a flat section of material or a group of people convened to discuss or decide on specific matters, while a board is a flat piece of material used for construction or a formally organized group of individuals governing an organization.
Difference Between Panel and Board
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
A panel is typically a flat component used in various structural contexts, like in walls, doors, or electronics, often designed for specific functional or aesthetic purposes. Whereas a board refers to a broader use of flat, stiff materials used for building, such as in flooring or furniture, highlighting its versatility in construction.
In terms of governance, a panel is often a temporary group formed to address specific issues, such as in academic, scientific, or judicial settings. On the other hand, a board usually refers to a more permanent body, like a board of directors, responsible for the strategic guidance and oversight of an organization or institution.
Panels may also refer to distinct sections within software interfaces or control systems, segmented to organize information or controls logically. While boards in a similar context could refer to circuit boards, which are crucial in the operation of virtually all electronic devices.
In discussions and settings, panels are convened to deliberate on specific topics, often at conferences or symposiums, designed to bring diverse expert opinions together. Whereas boards meet regularly to manage ongoing governance and operational decisions within a company or nonprofit.
Regarding design and function, panels can be interchangeable or adaptable, as seen in modular design systems or in vehicles. Board, by contrast, implies a foundational or structural component, often providing basic support or a surface necessary for construction.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
A flat section of material or a group of experts
A flat piece of material or group of governors
Usage in Construction
Used in specific applications like doors, walls
Used more broadly in flooring, furniture
Organizational Role
Typically temporary and issue-specific
Usually permanent and ongoing oversight
Technological Use
Sections in software interfaces, control panels
Circuit boards, foundational in electronics
Functionality
Interchangeable, adaptable in various systems
Foundational, structural in various settings
Compare with Definitions
Panel
Specific sections within software interfaces to organize controls or information.
He customized the control panel to better suit his needs.
Board
In electronics, refers to circuit boards, essential for device function.
The technician repaired the damaged circuit board.
Panel
A flat, often rectangular part used in the construction of larger objects.
The wooden panel was intricately carved.
Board
Refers to equipment in sports, such as diving boards or snowboards.
He grabbed his snowboard and headed for the slopes.
Panel
A group convened to discuss or adjudicate on particular issues.
The expert panel reached a consensus on the matter.
Board
A long, thin piece of wood or other material used in building and construction.
They laid the floor with sturdy oak boards.
Panel
Used in settings like solar panels to describe functional elements that convert sunlight into energy.
Their roof was covered with solar panels to harness energy.
Board
A group of individuals governing an organization.
The board of directors voted to approve the new policy.
Panel
In automotive contexts, refers to distinct sections of a vehicle's bodywork.
The car's side panel was dented in the accident.
Board
Used in the context of meals, such as board in 'room and board'.
The hotel offered excellent room and board.
Panel
A flat or curved component, typically rectangular, that forms or is set into the surface of a door, wall, or ceiling
A layer of insulating material should be placed between the panels and the wall
Board
A long flat slab of sawed lumber; a plank.
Panel
A flat board on which instruments or controls are fixed
A control panel
Board
A long flat slab of another material, used as a structural member.
Panel
A small group of people brought together to investigate or decide on a particular matter
An interview panel
Board
A flat, rigid, often rectangular piece of material used as a surface upon which to work
A cutting board.
An ironing board.
Panel
A person or people charged with an offence.
Board
A blackboard.
Panel
Cover (a wall or other surface) with panels
An elegant panelled dining room
Board
A bulletin board.
Panel
A flat, usually rectangular piece forming a raised, recessed, or framed part of the surface in which it is set.
Board
A scoreboard.
Panel
The space or section in a fence or railing between two posts.
Board
A toteboard.
Panel
A vertical section of fabric; a gore.
Board
A flat piece of material designed or equipped to be ridden as a sport, especially a snowboard, skateboard, or surfboard.
Panel
A thin wooden board, used as a surface for an oil painting.
Board
A diving board.
Panel
A painting on such a board.
Board
A backboard.
Panel
A board having switches or buttons to control an electric device.
Board
A flat, rigid piece of material on which a game is played, such as a checkerboard or chessboard.
Panel
An instrument panel.
Board
A table at which official meetings are held; a council table.
Panel
A section of a telephone switchboard.
Board
An organized body of administrators or investigators
A board of trustees.
A board of directors.
Panel
A cartoon drawing in a sequence of cartoons that form a narrative.
Board
A table, especially one set for serving food.
Panel
The complete list of persons summoned for jury duty.
Board
Food or meals considered as a whole
Board and lodging.
Panel
Those persons chosen from this list to constitute a pool from which a jury or juries will be selected for a particular court.
Board
(Sports) The wooden structure enclosing an area for skating, such as the ice on which hockey is played, or enclosing a playing area, as for indoor soccer.
Panel
A jury.
Board
A theater stage.
Panel
A group of people gathered to plan or discuss an issue, judge a contest, or act as a team on a radio or television quiz program.
Board
(Basketball) A rebound.
Panel
A discussion by such a group.
Board
An electrical-equipment panel.
Panel
To cover or furnish with panels.
Board
(Computers) A circuit board.
Panel
To decorate with panels.
Board
The side of a ship.
Panel
To separate into panels.
Board
A leeboard.
Panel
A (usually) rectangular section of a surface, or of a covering or of a wall, fence etc.
Behind the picture was a panel on the wall.
Board
A centerboard.
Panel
(architectural element) A sunken compartment with raised margins, moulded or otherwise, as in ceilings, wainscotings, etc.
Board
(Obsolete) A border or edge.
Panel
A group of people gathered to judge, interview, discuss etc. as on a television or radio broadcast for example.
Today’s panel includes John Smith.
Board
To cover or close with boards
Board up a broken window.
Panel
A portion of text or other material within a book, newspaper, web page, etc. set apart from the main body or separated by a border.
Board
To furnish with meals in return for pay.
Panel
(comics) An individual frame or drawing in a comic.
The last panel of a comic strip usually contains a punchline.
Board
To house where board is furnished
Board a horse at a stable.
Panel
(graphical user interface) A type of GUI widget, such as a control panel.
Admin panel
Board
To enter or go aboard (a vehicle or ship).
Panel
(law) A document containing the names of persons summoned as jurors by the sheriff.
Board
To allow (passengers) on board.
Panel
(law) The whole jury.
Board
(Nautical) To come alongside (a ship).
Panel
A prisoner arraigned for trial at the bar of a criminal court.
Board
(Sports) To force (an opposing hockey player) into the boards with a body check.
Panel
(obsolete) A piece of cloth serving as a saddle.
Board
(Obsolete) To approach.
Panel
A soft pad beneath a saddletree to prevent chafing.
Board
To receive meals or food and lodging as a paying customer.
Panel
(joinery) A board having its edges inserted in the groove of a surrounding frame.
The panel of a door
Board
(Sports) To use a snowboard, skateboard, surfboard, or similar item.
Panel
(masonry) One of the faces of a hewn stone.
Board
A relatively long, wide and thin piece of any material, usually wood or similar, often for use in construction or furniture-making.
Panel
(masonry) A slab or plank of wood used instead of a canvas for painting on.
Board
A device (e.g., switchboard) containing electrical switches and other controls and designed to control lights, sound, telephone connections, etc.
Panel
(mining) A heap of dressed ore.
Board
A flat surface with markings for playing a board game.
Each player starts the game with four counters on the board.
Panel
(mining) One of the districts divided by pillars of extra size, into which a mine is laid off in one system of extracting coal.
Board
Short for blackboard, whiteboard, chessboard, surfboard, circuit board, message board (on the Internet), etc.
Panel
(dressmaking) A plain strip or band, as of velvet or plush, placed at intervals lengthwise on the skirt of a dress, for ornament.
Board
A committee that manages the business of an organization, e.g., a board of directors.
We have to wait to hear back from the board.
Panel
A portion of a framed structure between adjacent posts or struts, as in a bridge truss.
Board
(uncountable) Regular meals or the amount paid for them in a place of lodging.
Room and board
Panel
A list of doctors who could provide limited free healthcare prior to the introduction of the NHS.
Board
(nautical) The side of a ship.
Panel
(medicine) A group of tests or assays, a battery.
Board
(nautical) The distance a sailing vessel runs between tacks when working to windward.
Panel
To enter (jury members) on an official list of jurors; to empanel.
Board
The wall that surrounds an ice hockey rink.
Panel
To fit (an animal, especially a mule or ass) with a panel or simple padded saddle.
Board
(archaic) A long, narrow table, like that used in a medieval dining hall.
Panel
(transitive) To fit (a room etc.) with panels.
Board
Paper made thick and stiff like a board, for book covers, etc.; pasteboard.
To bind a book in boards
Panel
A sunken compartment with raised margins, molded or otherwise, as in ceilings, wainscotings, etc.
Board
(video games) A level or stage having a particular layout.
Panel
A piece of parchment or a schedule, containing the names of persons summoned as jurors by the sheriff;
Board
A container for holding pre-dealt cards that is used to allow multiple sets of players to play the same cards. Board (duplicate bridge)
Panel
Any group of persons selected to judge a contest, conduct a discussion, serve as advisers, or participate in any group activity in which they will provide information or make judgments.
Board
A rebound.
Panel
Formerly, a piece of cloth serving as a saddle; hence, a soft pad beneath a saddletree to prevent chafing.
Board
(transitive) To step or climb onto or otherwise enter a ship, aircraft, train or other conveyance.
It is time to board the aircraft.
Panel
A board having its edges inserted in the groove of a surrounding frame; as, the panel of a door.
Board
(transitive) To provide someone with meals and lodging, usually in exchange for money.
To board one's horse at a livery stable
Panel
One of the faces of a hewn stone.
Board
(transitive) To receive meals and lodging in exchange for money.
Panel
A slab or plank of wood upon which, instead of canvas, a picture is painted.
Board
To capture an enemy ship by going alongside and grappling her, then invading her with a boarding party
Panel
A heap of dressed ore.
Board
(intransitive) To obtain meals, or meals and lodgings, statedly for compensation
Panel
A plain strip or band, as of velvet or plush, placed at intervals lengthwise on the skirt of a dress, for ornament.
Board
To approach (someone); to make advances to, accost.
Panel
A portion of a framed structure between adjacent posts or struts, as in a bridge truss.
Board
To cover with boards or boarding.
To board a house
Panel
A segment of an aëroplane wing. In a biplane the outer panel extends from the wing tip to the next row of posts, and is trussed by oblique stay wires.
Board
To hit (someone) with a wooden board.
Panel
To form in or with panels; as, to panel a wainscot.
Board
(transitive) To write something on a board, especially a blackboard or whiteboard.
Panel
Sheet that forms a distinct (usually flat) section or component of something
Board
A piece of timber sawed thin, and of considerable length and breadth as compared with the thickness, - used for building, etc.
Panel
A committee appointed to judge a competition
Board
A table to put food upon.
Fruit of all kinds . . . She gathers, tribute large, and on the boardHeaps with unsparing hand.
Panel
(law) a group of people summoned for jury service (from whom a jury will be chosen)
Board
Hence: What is served on a table as food; stated meals; provision; entertainment; - usually as furnished for pay; as, to work for one's board; the price of board.
Panel
A group of people gathered for a special purpose as to plan or discuss an issue or judge a contest etc
Board
A table at which a council or court is held.
Both better acquainted with affairs than any other who sat then at that board.
We may judge from their letters to the board.
Panel
A pad placed under a saddle
Board
A square or oblong piece of thin wood or other material used for some special purpose, as, a molding board; a board or surface painted or arranged for a game; as, a chessboard; a backgammon board.
Panel
(computer science) a small temporary window in a graphical user interface that appears in order to request information from the user; after the information has been provided the user dismisses the box with `okay' or `cancel'
Board
Paper made thick and stiff like a board, for book covers, etc.; pasteboard; as, to bind a book in boards.
Panel
Electrical device consisting of an insulated panel containing switches and dials and meters for controlling other electrical devices;
He checked the instrument panel
Suddenly the board lit up like a Christmas tree
Board
The stage in a theater; as, to go upon the boards, to enter upon the theatrical profession.
Panel
Decorate with panels;
Panel the walls with wood
Board
The border or side of anything.
Panel
Select from a list;
Empanel prospective jurors
Board
To cover with boards or boarding; as, to board a house.
Board
To go on board of, or enter, as a ship, whether in a hostile or a friendly way.
You board an enemy to capture her, and a stranger to receive news or make a communication.
Board
To enter, as a railway car.
Board
To furnish with regular meals, or with meals and lodgings, for compensation; to supply with daily meals.
Board
To place at board, for compensation; as, to board one's horse at a livery stable.
Board
To obtain meals, or meals and lodgings, statedly for compensation; as, he boards at the hotel.
We are several of us, gentlemen and ladies, who board in the same house.
Board
To approach; to accost; to address; hence, to woo.
I will board her, though she chide as loudAs thunder when the clouds in autumn crack.
Board
A committee having supervisory powers;
The board has seven members
Board
A flat piece of material designed for a special purpose;
He nailed boards across the windows
Board
A stout length of sawn timber; made in a wide variety of sizes and used for many purposes
Board
A board on which information can be displayed to public view
Board
A flat portable surface (usually rectangular) designed for board games;
He got out the board and set up the pieces
Board
Food or meals in general;
She sets a fine table
Room and board
Board
Electrical device consisting of an insulated panel containing switches and dials and meters for controlling other electrical devices;
He checked the instrument panel
Suddenly the board lit up like a Christmas tree
Board
A printed circuit that can be inserted into expansion slots in a computer to increase the computer's capabilities
Board
A table at which meals are served;
He helped her clear the dining table
A feast was spread upon the board
Board
Get on board of (trains, buses, ships, aircraft, etc.)
Board
Live and take one's meals at or in;
She rooms in an old boarding house
Board
Lodge and take meals (at)
Board
Provide food and lodging (for);
The old lady is boarding three men
Common Curiosities
What is a control panel?
A control panel is a flat section, often within a larger machine or interface, where controls and monitoring instruments are grouped.
How often do boards meet in an organization?
Boards generally meet regularly, such as quarterly or annually, depending on the organization's bylaws.
What is the significance of panels at conferences?
Panels at conferences provide expert insights, facilitate discussions on specialized topics, and encourage interaction with the audience.
What is the main difference between a panel and a board in construction?
A panel is a specific flat section used for functional or aesthetic purposes, while a board is a broader term for flat, stiff materials used in various building applications.
What are the roles of a panel in governance?
Panels in governance are typically convened to provide expert opinions, review submissions, or make decisions on specific topics.
How does a panel function in a car?
In a car, a panel refers to parts of the bodywork, such as doors or hoods, often designed for accessibility or damage repair.
Can a panel also be a type of board?
Yes, in some contexts, a panel can be considered a type of board, especially when referring to flat pieces of material.
Who typically serves on a board of directors?
A board of directors usually consists of elected or appointed members, including executives from within the company and sometimes external advisors.
Can the term board refer to meal arrangements?
Yes, 'board' can refer to meal provisions in terms like 'room and board,' which includes lodging and meals.
Is a circuit board considered a board?
Yes, a circuit board is a type of board used in electronics to mount and connect various components.
Are panels used in technology outside of software?
Yes, panels are also used in technology in hardware setups like solar panels or electrical panels.
What types of boards are used in sports?
Different types of boards used in sports include diving boards, snowboards, and skateboards.
How do panels and boards differ in the context of electronics?
In electronics, panels generally refer to user interfaces or control setups, whereas boards refer to internal components like circuit boards.
What are panel discussions?
Panel discussions are formal conversations at events where experts discuss a topic in front of an audience, often fielding questions.
How are boards used in daily living besides construction?
Boards are used in daily living in various ways, including as cutting boards in kitchens or bulletin boards for information display.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
