A. ORGANIZATION AND OPERATIONS	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2015
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]
ORGANIZATION AND OPERATIONS	Applied Optoelectronics, Inc. (“AOI” or the “Company”) was incorporated in the State of Texas on February 28, 1997. In March 2013, the Company converted into a Delaware corporation. The Company is a leading, vertically integrated provider of fiber-optic networking products, primarily for three networking end-markets: internet data centers, cable television, and fiber-to-the-home. The Company designs and manufactures a range of optical communications products at varying levels of integration, from components, subassemblies and modules to complete turn-key equipment. Prime World International Holdings, Ltd. (“Prime World”) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company incorporated in the British Virgin Islands on January 13, 2006. Prime World is the parent company of Global Technology, Inc. (“Global”). Global was established in June 2002 in the People’s Republic of China (“PRC”) and was acquired by Prime World on March 30, 2006. The Company also operates a division, AOI—Taiwan, which is qualified to do business in Taiwan and primarily manufactures transceivers and performs research and development activities.

A. ORGANIZATION AND OPERATIONS

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2015

Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]

Applied Optoelectronics, Inc. (“AOI” or the “Company”) was incorporated in the State of Texas on February 28, 1997. In March 2013, the Company converted into a Delaware corporation. The Company is a leading, vertically integrated provider of fiber-optic networking products, primarily for three networking end-markets: internet data centers, cable television, and fiber-to-the-home. The Company designs and manufactures a range of optical communications products at varying levels of integration, from components, subassemblies and modules to complete turn-key equipment.

Prime World International Holdings, Ltd. (“Prime World”) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company incorporated in the British Virgin Islands on January 13, 2006. Prime World is the parent company of Global Technology, Inc. (“Global”). Global was established in June 2002 in the People’s Republic of China (“PRC”) and was acquired by Prime World on March 30, 2006. The Company also operates a division, AOI—Taiwan, which is qualified to do business in Taiwan and primarily manufactures transceivers and performs research and development activities.