  In the first part of the talk, I review the applications of loop equations to
the matrix models and to 2-dimensional quantum gravity which is defined as
their continuum limit. The results concerning multi-loop correlators for low
genera and the Virasoro invariance are discussed. The second part is devoted to
the Kontsevich matrix model which is equivalent to 2-dimensional topological
gravity. I review the Schwinger--Dyson equations for the Kontsevich model as
well as their explicit solution in genus zero. The relation between the
Kontsevich model and the continuum limit of the hermitean one-matrix model is
discussed.
