There are different Docker image types for most of the images: alpine, bullseye, bookworm, slim etc.
The difference between them is mostly the underlying operating system that it runs.
What to choose
Always scroll to the bottom of the DockerHub page for a particular image and read about suggestions for choosing a specific image.
Full official image (e.g. python:3.11.4)
These are the de-facto images. Use when unsure and just getting started. The safest choice, good to start quickly in the development. But will take up the most space and will be the least secure.
Based on the most recent stable Debian operating system release.
Debian releases
-bookworm: stable Debian 12 release.-bullseye: Debian 11.-buster: Debian 10.-stretch: Debian 9.-jessie: Debian 8.
Slim (-slim)
Minimal installation required to run the tool. Use if you have space constraints and do not need to full version. But test thoroughly. If unexplained errors occur, try switching to the full image.
The most secure one, because has less points that could be attacked.
There may be paired -slim-bookworm, -slim-bullseye etc. versions. They provide a slim version with that specific operating system.
Alpine (-alpine)
Based on the Alpine Linux Project that is built specifically to use inside of containers. Were popular for the tiny size. But can cause compatibility issues that are hard to debug.
Best for extreme space constraints, but needs thorough testing.
If something is missing, you can install it directly in the Dockerfile.
Uses apk instead of apt.