This review discusses recent progress in 2D gravity coupled to d < 1 conformal matter, based on a representation of discrete gravity in terms of random matrices. It covers the saddle point approximation for these models, including a class of related O(n) matrix models. For d < 1 matter, the matrix problem can be completely solved in many cases by the introduction of suitable orthogonal polynomials. Alternatively, in the continuum limit, the orthogonal polynomial method is equivalent to the construction of representations of the canonical commutation relations in terms of differential operators. In the case of pure gravity or discrete Ising-like matter, the sum over topologies is reduced to the solution of non-linear differential equations (the Painlevé equation in the pure gravity case) which can be shown to follow from an action principle. In the case of pure gravity and more generally all unitary models, the perturbation theory is not Borel summable and therefore alone does not define a unique solution. In the non-Borel summable case, the matrix model does not define the sum over topologies beyond perturbation theory. The review also discusses the computation of correlation functions directly in the continuum formulation of matter coupled to 2D gravity, and compares with the matrix model results. Finally, it reviews the relation between matrix models and topological gravity, and as well the relation to intersection theory of the moduli space of punctured Riemann surfaces.This review discusses recent progress in 2D gravity coupled to d < 1 conformal matter, based on a representation of discrete gravity in terms of random matrices. It covers the saddle point approximation for these models, including a class of related O(n) matrix models. For d < 1 matter, the matrix problem can be completely solved in many cases by the introduction of suitable orthogonal polynomials. Alternatively, in the continuum limit, the orthogonal polynomial method is equivalent to the construction of representations of the canonical commutation relations in terms of differential operators. In the case of pure gravity or discrete Ising-like matter, the sum over topologies is reduced to the solution of non-linear differential equations (the Painlevé equation in the pure gravity case) which can be shown to follow from an action principle. In the case of pure gravity and more generally all unitary models, the perturbation theory is not Borel summable and therefore alone does not define a unique solution. In the non-Borel summable case, the matrix model does not define the sum over topologies beyond perturbation theory. The review also discusses the computation of correlation functions directly in the continuum formulation of matter coupled to 2D gravity, and compares with the matrix model results. Finally, it reviews the relation between matrix models and topological gravity, and as well the relation to intersection theory of the moduli space of punctured Riemann surfaces.