  The pinch technique (PT) is an algorithm for the rearrangement of
contributions to conventional, gauge-dependent n-point functions in gauge
theories to obtain a formulation of one-loop perturbation theory in terms of
``effective'' n-point functions which, principle among many other desirable
properties, are individually entirely independent of the particular
gauge-fixing procedure used. The aim of this talk is to give an introductory
account of (i) the phenomenological motivations for the PT approach, (ii) the
PT algorithm, including the principle properties of the PT n-point functions,
(iii) an example application, and (iv) recent progress in extending the PT
beyond the one-loop level.
