Explain the differences between monolithic and microservices architecture. In which scenarios would you choose one over the other?

Monolithic architecture involves a single codebase where all components are interconnected, making it simpler to manage but harder to scale. Microservices architecture breaks applications into smaller, independently deployable services, enhancing scalability and flexibility but introducing complexity in inter-service communication and data management. Choose monolithic for smaller applications or teams, while microservices are ideal for large-scale applications requiring flexibility.