Snap packages are another format, basically what Buffy said.
Often, snap packages are preferred because they’re generally not locked to older versions, and are maintained separate from the main package system so there’s less likelihood of conflicts, etc. They are generally safe to use, but the same issue applies to snap packages similar to deb packages - if the package becomes unmaintained, that means it’s not being updated and not receiving security patches. But that same problem can happen to both snaps and debs. So they’re generally safe to use, but like all packages, you do need to audit their versions and check for CVE’s like you would anything else.