Polygons

Polygon models are the oldest form of 3D surface, and the majority renderers (Maya's included) tessellate NURBS surfaces into polygons at render time. For a short time, polygon models cut down out of favor with character animators because of their flat, faceted environment, but with the advent of SubDivision surfaces, polygonal modeling techniques are becoming extra well-liked.

Polygons are 3-, 4-, or n-sided shapes described by vertex position data. Connected, they form polygonal objects that can be shaded,

textured, lit, and rendered. Polygonal modeling paradigms most personally resemble conventional sculpture, with figures being roughed out in low polygon mode and smoothed toward the completion of modeling. In Maya 3 and later, the polygon manipulation tools and animation performance have better dramatically.

Texture mapping polygon characters requires that you make UV maps and can rapidly become a tedious chore, but with ability, texture maps can create an otherwise inappropriately low polygon model into a visually interesting subject.