  The dispersive approach to quantum chromodynamics is applied to the study of
the hadronic vacuum polarization function and associated quantities. This
approach merges the intrinsically nonperturbative constraints, which originate
in the kinematic restrictions on the respective physical processes, with
corresponding perturbative input. The obtained hadronic vacuum polarization
function agrees with pertinent lattice simulation data. The evaluated hadronic
contributions to the muon anomalous magnetic moment and to the shift of the
electromagnetic fine structure constant conform with recent assessments of
these quantities.
