  Quantum hadrodynamics (QHD) is a framework for describing the nuclear
many-body problem as a relativistic system of baryons and mesons. Motivation is
given for the utility of such an approach and for the importance of basing it
on a local, Lorentz-invariant lagrangian density. Calculations of nuclear
matter and finite nuclei in both renormalizable and nonrenormalizable,
effective QHD models are discussed. Connections are made between the effective
and renormalizable models, as well as between relativistic mean-field theory
and more sophisticated treatments. Recent work in QHD involving nuclear
structure, electroweak interactions in nuclei, relativistic transport theory,
nuclear matter under extreme conditions, and the evaluation of loop diagrams is
reviewed.
