Panels are the blocks below your video player. They stay visible whether you are live or offline, which makes them one of the few parts of a Twitch channel that keeps working when you are not there.
Why they matter more than they look
Someone arriving from a raid, a clip or a search result while you are offline sees your banner, your bio and your panels. That is the whole pitch. Panels are the part of it you can make specific.
The three that earn their place
Who you are. Not a biography. What you stream, how often, and what a viewer is walking into.
What to expect. Chat rules, content warnings, or how you handle spoilers and backseating. This is the panel that prevents the awkward first interaction.
Where else to find you. Discord first if you have one, because it is the only link where someone can actually talk to you.
Three is the bar Channel Check uses. Beyond that you are into diminishing returns, and viewers have to scroll to see them.
A note on images
Panels can be images with links attached, which looks tidier but means the text is not selectable, not searchable, and invisible to anyone using a screen reader. If you use image panels, put the same information in the panel description underneath.
More on the settings that affect discovery in the Channel Optimization guide.