If you download an image from the Docker Hub library, it’s likely to be available for multiple architectures. If you pull it from an AMD / Intel 64 bit machine, you’ll get the amd64 architecture image. If you pull it from an ARM based machine (including Apple Silicon), you’ll get the arm64 based image. Typically when you build a custom image, you’ll build for your own architecture only. Docker multi-architecture builds however allow you to build for multiple target architectures.
Stuart 'Stevie' Leitch on Software Development, Java Technologies, Security and Testing