Photoshop deletes whole layer instead of deleting what's on the layer

I just installed Photoshop on a second computer. I'm using Adobe Photoshop Version: 23.5.0 20220809.r.669 0e07917 x64 here. I'm not at my primary computer to check which version I usually use.

I'm running into an infuriating little bug/feature. When I press Ctrl-A and Delete, Photoshop deletes the layer instead of deleting what's on the layer. Photoshop has never done this before. Always before, it has just deleted what's on the layer, leaving the layer in place for me to continue using it. Now, if I want to erase everything, I have to go and create a new layer whereas before I could just erase and then continue working. I can't find a setting to change this behavior. Can someone please tell me how to restore the previous behavior of deleting what's on the layer instead of deleting the layer itself?