Subdivision surfaces also go by the names of
MetaNurbs (
lightwave),
hypernurbs(
cinema 4D),
uberNurbs(
electric Image). If I recall most subdivision srufaces use a polygon object to describe a
NURBS object.
Pixels 3D Had an excellent implementation, and would let a polygonal object define any tipe of spline object.
Subdivision surfaces are great for organic modeling. Curved surfaces are interpolated from the polygon object, and everything is smooth and shiny.