diff --git a/CHANGES/7831.feature b/CHANGES/7831.feature
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..a89d6a70d2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/CHANGES/7831.feature
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+Added an opt-in ``content_ids`` field to the repository version detail, returning the list of content unit UUIDs in the version when the request includes the ``content_ids=true`` query parameter. This lets clients diff content sets between versions directly instead of issuing expensive content filter queries.
diff --git a/pulpcore/app/serializers/repository.py b/pulpcore/app/serializers/repository.py
index 191ed4c991..8dc4c283f7 100644
--- a/pulpcore/app/serializers/repository.py
+++ b/pulpcore/app/serializers/repository.py
@@ -291,10 +291,26 @@ class RepositoryVersionSerializer(ModelSerializer, NestedHyperlinkedModelSeriali
     vuln_report = serializers.SerializerMethodField(
         read_only=True,
     )
+    content_ids = serializers.SerializerMethodField(
+        help_text=_(
+            "The list of content unit UUIDs in this version. Only returned when the request "
+            "includes the 'content_ids=true' query parameter; otherwise null."
+        ),
+        read_only=True,
+    )
 
     def get_vuln_report(self, object):
         return f"{reverse('vuln_report-list')}?repo_versions={get_prn(object)}"
 
+    def get_content_ids(self, object):
+        request = self.context.get("request")
+        if request is None:
+            return None
+        value = request.query_params.get("content_ids")
+        if value is None or value.lower() not in ("true", "1", "yes"):
+            return None
+        return object.content_ids
+
     class Meta:
         model = models.RepositoryVersion
         fields = ModelSerializer.Meta.fields + (
@@ -304,6 +320,7 @@ class Meta:
             "base_version",
             "content_summary",
             "vuln_report",
+            "content_ids",
         )
 
 
diff --git a/pulpcore/tests/unit/serializers/test_repository.py b/pulpcore/tests/unit/serializers/test_repository.py
index 1c7adc2afa..4b47bbd2d2 100644
--- a/pulpcore/tests/unit/serializers/test_repository.py
+++ b/pulpcore/tests/unit/serializers/test_repository.py
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 from types import SimpleNamespace
 from unittest.mock import Mock
+from uuid import uuid4
 
 import pytest
 from rest_framework import serializers
@@ -10,6 +11,7 @@
     PublicationSerializer,
     RemoteSerializer,
     RepositorySyncURLSerializer,
+    RepositoryVersionSerializer,
     ValidateFieldsMixin,
 )
 
@@ -265,3 +267,36 @@ def test_create_remote_with_invalid_parameter():
     serializer = RemoteSerializer(data=data)
     with pytest.raises(serializers.ValidationError, match="Unexpected field"):
         serializer.validate(data)
+
+
+def _content_ids_serializer(query_params=None):
+    """Build a RepositoryVersionSerializer with an optional fake request in its context."""
+    context = {}
+    if query_params is not None:
+        context["request"] = SimpleNamespace(query_params=query_params)
+    return RepositoryVersionSerializer(context=context)
+
+
+def test_get_content_ids_omitted_without_request():
+    """content_ids is null when there is no request in the serializer context."""
+    obj = SimpleNamespace(content_ids=[uuid4()])
+    serializer = _content_ids_serializer()
+    assert serializer.get_content_ids(obj) is None
+
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("value", [None, "", "false", "0", "no", "False"])
+def test_get_content_ids_omitted_when_not_requested(value):
+    """content_ids is null unless the request explicitly opts in via the query parameter."""
+    query_params = {} if value is None else {"content_ids": value}
+    obj = SimpleNamespace(content_ids=[uuid4()])
+    serializer = _content_ids_serializer(query_params=query_params)
+    assert serializer.get_content_ids(obj) is None
+
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("value", ["true", "True", "TRUE", "1", "yes"])
+def test_get_content_ids_returned_when_requested(value):
+    """content_ids returns the version's UUIDs when the request opts in."""
+    content_ids = [uuid4(), uuid4()]
+    obj = SimpleNamespace(content_ids=content_ids)
+    serializer = _content_ids_serializer(query_params={"content_ids": value})
+    assert serializer.get_content_ids(obj) == content_ids