When do you separate databases?

Hi All,

I am managing a database design project.

It will database our entire website including:

images, articles, bibliography, ecommerce, membership in website, site
statistics, etc.

The 'lumper' team member says "let's make it all one giant database with
dozens and dozens of tables".

The 'splitter' team member says "let's make it many separate databases each
having fewer tables".

What are the advantages and disadvantages to 'lumping' all tables into one
database vs. 'splitting' into multiple databases with fewer tables?

Thanks,

Conrad

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