Final Answer:
Android calls the `onCreateView()` method when it's time to display the layout for the fragment. This occurs after the `onCreate` method but before the `onStart` method.
Step-by-step explanation:
In Android, the `onCreateView()` method is a crucial part of the fragment lifecycle. This method is specifically responsible for creating the UI (User Interface) for the fragment. When the fragment needs to display its layout, Android invokes this method to inflate the layout from the corresponding XML file, providing a View object to be returned. It acts as the pivotal point where the fragment's UI is created, setting up its layout components before becoming visible to the user.
After the `onCreate()` method initializes the fragment, `onCreateView()` is called to instantiate the fragment's view hierarchy. This allows for the UI components to be initialized, configured, and structured. Once the view is created within `onCreateView()`, it's returned to the system, and subsequently, Android follows up with the `onStart()` method, wherein the fragment is about to become visible to the user.
Understanding the fragment lifecycle is crucial for managing UI components and executing tasks at specific points in a fragment's lifespan. The `onCreateView()` method serves as the entry point for constructing the layout of the fragment, playing an essential role in the process before the fragment is displayed, while the `onStart()` method follows, indicating the fragment's imminent visibility to the user.