What is the difference between a monolithic kernel and a microkernel, and what are some advantages and disadvantages of each?

A monolithic kernel is a single, large kernel that contains all essential operating system functions and services, whereas a microkernel is a small kernel that provides only basic functionalities such as process scheduling and inter-process communication, with additional services implemented as user-space processes. Monolithic kernels typically offer better performance but may be less modular and more prone to crashes, while microkernels offer greater modularity and reliability but may suffer from higher overhead and reduced performance.