  In recent years, machine learning has emerged as a powerful computational
tool and novel problem-solving perspective for physics, offering new avenues
for studying strongly interacting QCD matter properties under extreme
conditions. This review article aims to provide an overview of the current
state of this intersection of fields, focusing on the application of machine
learning to theoretical studies in high energy nuclear physics. It covers
diverse aspects, including heavy ion collisions, lattice field theory, and
neutron stars, and discuss how machine learning can be used to explore and
facilitate the physics goals of understanding QCD matter. The review also
provides a commonality overview from a methodology perspective, from
data-driven perspective to physics-driven perspective. We conclude by
discussing the challenges and future prospects of machine learning applications
in high energy nuclear physics, also underscoring the importance of
incorporating physics priors into the purely data-driven learning toolbox. This
review highlights the critical role of machine learning as a valuable
computational paradigm for advancing physics exploration in high energy nuclear
physics.
