If a widget needs to perform a lengthy data fetching operation after it is created, which lifecycle method should be utilized?

In scenarios where a widget needs to perform time-consuming tasks after being created, the initState() method should be used. This method is called when the widget is inserted into the tree and is the appropriate place for operations such as data fetching. Utilizing initState() ensures that these tasks are executed only once during the widget's lifecycle, avoiding unnecessary repeated calls and optimizing performance.