diff --git a/rest_framework/fields.py b/rest_framework/fields.py
index fdfba13f2..f2dd9d74d 100644
--- a/rest_framework/fields.py
+++ b/rest_framework/fields.py
@@ -283,14 +283,25 @@ class CreateOnlyDefault:
         return '%s(%s)' % (self.__class__.__name__, repr(self.default))
 
 
-class CurrentUserDefault:
+class ValueFromContext:
     requires_context = True
 
+    def __init__(self, context_name):
+        self.context_name = context_name
+
     def __call__(self, serializer_field):
-        return serializer_field.context['request'].user
+        return serializer_field.context[self.context_name]
 
     def __repr__(self):
-        return '%s()' % self.__class__.__name__
+        return "%s()" % self.__class__.__name__
+
+
+class CurrentUserDefault(ValueFromContext):
+    def __init__(self, *args, **kwargs):
+        super().__init__(context_name="request")
+
+    def __call__(self, serializer_field):
+        return super().__call__(serializer_field).user
 
 
 class SkipField(Exception):
diff --git a/tests/test_fields.py b/tests/test_fields.py
index a83c0bd68..439d3a92c 100644
--- a/tests/test_fields.py
+++ b/tests/test_fields.py
@@ -15,7 +15,8 @@ from django.utils.timezone import activate, deactivate, override, utc
 import rest_framework
 from rest_framework import exceptions, serializers
 from rest_framework.fields import (
-    BuiltinSignatureError, CurrentUserDefault, DjangoImageField, is_simple_callable
+    BuiltinSignatureError, CurrentUserDefault, DjangoImageField,
+    ValueFromContext, is_simple_callable
 )
 
 # Tests for helper functions.
@@ -2407,3 +2408,27 @@ class TestCurrentUserDefault:
         with pytest.raises(KeyError) as exc_info:
             serializer.is_valid()
         assert str(exc_info.value) == "'request'"
+
+
+class ValueFromContextSerializer(serializers.Serializer):
+    vocalization = serializers.HiddenField(default=ValueFromContext("vocalization"))
+
+
+class TestValueFromContext:
+    def test_context_set(self):
+        serializer = ValueFromContextSerializer(data={}, context={"vocalization": "meow"})
+        serializer.is_valid()
+        field = serializer.fields["vocalization"]
+        assert field.get_default() == "meow"
+
+    def test_context_set_none(self):
+        serializer = ValueFromContextSerializer(data={}, context={"vocalization": None})
+        serializer.is_valid()
+        field = serializer.fields["vocalization"]
+        assert field.get_default() is None
+
+    def test_missing_context(self):
+        serializer = ValueFromContextSerializer(data={}, context={})
+        with pytest.raises(KeyError) as exc_info:
+            serializer.is_valid()
+        assert str(exc_info.value) == "'vocalization'"