Name:	aaoi_DeferredTaxAssetsASC842Assets
Namespace Prefix:	aaoi_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

Amount before allocation of valuation allowances of deferred tax asset attributable to deductible temporary differences from capitalized research and development.

No definition available.

Name:	aaoi_DeferredTaxAssetsCapitalizedResearchAndDevelopment
Namespace Prefix:	aaoi_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

Amount of deferred tax liability attributable to taxable temporary differences between the lease liabilities as disclosed under ASC 842 and the lease liabilities as disclosed previously under ASC 840.

No definition available.

Name:	aaoi_DeferredTaxLiabilitiesASC842Liabilities
Namespace Prefix:	aaoi_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

Amount of deferred tax liability attributable to taxable temporary differences.

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02(26)(b))
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147480566/210-10-S99-1

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 740
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (a)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147482685/740-10-50-2

Reference 3: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02(26)(a))
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147480566/210-10-S99-1

Reference 4: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Topic 942
-SubTopic 210
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03(15)(2))
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147478546/942-210-S99-1

Name:	us-gaap_DeferredIncomeTaxLiabilities
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

Amount, before allocation of valuation allowance, of deferred tax asset attributable to deductible interest carryforward.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Topic 740
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 6
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147482685/740-10-50-6

Name:	us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetInterestCarryforward
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

Amount before allocation of valuation allowances of deferred tax asset attributable to deductible temporary differences and carryforwards.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 740
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (b)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147482685/740-10-50-2

Name:	us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsGross
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

Amount, before allocation of valuation allowance, of deferred tax asset attributable to deductible temporary difference from in-process research and development cost acquired in business combination or from joint venture formation or both.

Name:	us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsInProcessResearchAndDevelopment
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

Amount before allocation of valuation allowances of deferred tax asset attributable to deductible temporary differences from inventory.

Name:	us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsInventory
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

Amount, after allocation of valuation allowances and deferred tax liability, of deferred tax asset attributable to deductible differences and carryforwards, without jurisdictional netting.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Topic 740
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147482685/740-10-50-2

Name:	us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsLiabilitiesNet
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

Amount after allocation of valuation allowances of deferred tax asset attributable to deductible temporary differences and carryforwards.

Name:	us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsNet
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

Amount before allocation of valuation allowances of deferred tax asset attributable to deductible operating loss carryforwards.

Name:	us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsOperatingLossCarryforwards
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

Amount, before allocation of valuation allowance, of deferred tax asset attributable to deductible temporary differences, classified as other.

Name:	us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsOther
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

Amount before allocation of valuation allowances of deferred tax asset attributable to deductible foreign tax credit carryforwards.

Name:	us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsTaxCreditCarryforwardsForeign
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

Amount before allocation of valuation allowances of deferred tax asset attributable to deductible temporary differences from compensation and benefits costs.

Name:	us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsTaxDeferredExpenseCompensationAndBenefits
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

Amount, before allocation of valuation allowance, of deferred tax asset attributable to deductible temporary difference from unrealized loss on investment in debt security measured at fair value with change in fair value recognized in other comprehensive income (available-for-sale).

Name:	us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsUnrealizedLossesOnAvailableforSaleSecuritiesGross
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

Amount of deferred tax assets for which it is more likely than not that a tax benefit will not be realized.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 740
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (c)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147482685/740-10-50-2

Name:	us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsValuationAllowance
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

Amount of deferred tax liability attributable to taxable temporary differences from property, plant, and equipment.