Extraction elements

Extraction elements are, as the name would suggest, elements relating to the extraction process. Specifically, they include any methods that can and have been used to extract an answer, clue phrase, or instruction in a hunt puzzle. While there are certainly many ways of doing so, extraction elements only become so after having seen sufficient (as in two or more times) use.

Subtypes
Extraction elements can primarily be broken up into groups based on the method by which they extract.

Decryption
Decryption extraction involves deciphering a code or cipher, or at least something that can easily map to letter or words in a given language. That means that not only are 'traditional' codes used to obfuscate information like the Caesar cipher members of this category, but systems for regular, open communication are as well, such as flag semaphore.

Visual Extraction
Visual extraction involves systems that result in some kind of image or visual representation of one's final piece of information. This includes both actions taken to generate an image (such as playing Charades) and ways of expressing an image (such as bitmaps).

Letter and String Extraction
Letter and string extraction involves taking specific portions of words and phrases based on various criteria. That criteria can be the position of them within the strings, an outside value or marking that indicates what to take, or a relationship to another string.

Other Extractions
As not all extractions fit neatly into the other three categories, the miscellaneous ones will be lumped into this category. These include things at both extremes of the puzzle-involvement spectrum, from heavier-than-normal (odd-one-out), to the minimal (extraction by reward).