ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Nonuniform rational B-spline

A nonuniform rational B-spline, or NURBS for short, is a bunch of curves used to make shapes in computer programs that work with graphics.

Think of a curve like a line you would draw on a piece of paper, but instead of being straight it can bend and twist in any direction.

The NURBS curves are made up of a bunch of points called control points. Imagine putting a dot on a piece of paper and then moving it around. You can make the dot move in whatever direction you want, like up or down or left or right.

The other thing that's important about these curves is that they allow you to make smooth shapes. Imagine taking a bendy straw and bending it into different shapes. You can make it into a straight line or you can make it into a big circle.

NURBS curves can be used to make shapes like that too, but they're not just limited to simple geometric shapes. You can use them to make complicated things like cars or airplanes or even people.

So when people talk about NURBS, they're basically talking about a way to make really cool looking things on a computer.