Parallel circuits provide multiple pathways for electricity while series circuits only have one pathway. Both follow Ohm's law, V=IR. In a series circuit if an additional load such as a lightbulb is added the resistance R increases so the current I decreases. An advantage of a parallel circuit is that the voltage remains the same if another light is added so the brightness of each bulb stays the same.
A second advantage of parallel circuits is that the circuit can be broken in one loop without the entire circuit being incomplete. In a group of lights wired in parallel, if one burns out the others stay lit. In series the circuit is broken if one light burns out because there are no alternate pathways for the electrons.
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