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Risk Return Abstract rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Registrant Name dei_EntityRegistrantName THE ALGER FUNDS
Prospectus Date rr_ProspectusDate Mar. 01, 2022
Class Z Shares | Alger Growth and Income Fund - AC  
Risk Return Abstract rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Risk/Return [Heading] rr_RiskReturnHeading <span style="color:#262626;font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;font-weight:bold;text-transform:uppercase;">Alger Growth & Income Fund</span>
Objective [Heading] rr_ObjectiveHeading <span style="color:#0065D2;font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;font-weight:bold;">Investment Objective</span>
Objective, Primary [Text Block] rr_ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock Alger Growth & Income Fund seeks to provide capital appreciation and current income.
Expense [Heading] rr_ExpenseHeading <span style="color:#0065D2;font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;font-weight:bold;">Fund Fees and Expenses</span>
Expense Narrative [Text Block] rr_ExpenseNarrativeTextBlock This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy, hold and sell shares of the Fund. You may pay other fees, such as brokerage commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries, which are not reflected in the table and examples below.
Shareholder Fees Caption [Text] rr_ShareholderFeesCaption <span style="color:#262626;font-family:Arial;font-size:9pt;font-weight:bold;">Shareholder Fees</span> <br/><span style="color:#262626;font-family:Arial;font-size:9pt;margin-left:0%;">(fees paid directly from your investment)</span>
Operating Expenses Caption [Text] rr_OperatingExpensesCaption <span style="color:#262626;font-family:Arial;font-size:9pt;font-weight:bold;">Annual Fund Operating Expenses</span> <br/><span style="color:#262626;font-family:Arial;font-size:9pt;margin-left:0%;">(expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)</span>
Portfolio Turnover [Heading] rr_PortfolioTurnoverHeading <span style="color:#0065D2;font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;font-weight:bold;">Portfolio Turnover</span>
Portfolio Turnover [Text Block] rr_PortfolioTurnoverTextBlock The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 8.40% of the average value of its portfolio.
Portfolio Turnover, Rate rr_PortfolioTurnoverRate 8.40%
Expense Example [Heading] rr_ExpenseExampleHeading <span style="color:#0065D2;font-family:Arial;font-size:9pt;font-weight:bold;">Example</span>
Expense Example Narrative [Text Block] rr_ExpenseExampleNarrativeTextBlock The following example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other funds. The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated, that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund’s operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions you would pay the following expenses whether or not you redeemed your shares at the end of each period:
Strategy [Heading] rr_StrategyHeading <span style="color:#0065D2;font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;font-weight:bold;">Principal Investment Strategy</span>
Strategy Narrative [Text Block] rr_StrategyNarrativeTextBlock Fred Alger Management, LLC (the “Manager”) believes companies undergoing Positive Dynamic Change offer the best investment opportunities. Positive Dynamic Change refers to companies realizing High Unit Volume Growth or companies undergoing Positive Lifecycle Change. High Unit Volume Growth companies are traditional growth companies experiencing, for example, rapidly growing demand or market dominance. Positive Lifecycle Change companies are, for example, companies benefitting from new regulations, a new product innovation or new management.The Fund invests primarily in equity securities such as common or preferred stocks which the Manager believes offer opportunities for capital appreciation and which also pay dividends. In considering such companies, the Manager classifies them into three categories: Dividend Leaders – companies that generate high dividend yields; Dividend Growers – companies that have a history of strong and consistent dividend growth; and Kings of Cash Flow – companies that have strong potential for generating capital appreciation and the ability to return significant amounts of cash to investors as a result of their free cash flow. The Fund intends to invest at least 65% of its total assets in dividend paying equity securities. The Fund may invest up to 35% of its total assets in equity securities that do not pay dividends or in money market instruments and repurchase agreements. The Fund focuses on growing companies that, at the time of purchase of the securities, have a market capitalization equal to or greater than the market capitalization of companies included in the S&P 500 Index, as reported by the index as of the most recent quarter-end. This index is designed to track the performance of large-capitalization stocks. At December 31, 2021, the market capitalization of the companies in this index ranged from $6.5 billion to $2.9 trillion.The Fund may invest a significant portion of its assets in securities of companies conducting business within a single sector, as defined by third party sources, including the information technology, healthcare, financials, and communication services sectors.The Fund may sell a stock when it reaches a target price, it fails to perform as expected, or other opportunities appear more attractive.The Fund invests in cash (and cash equivalents) when the Fund is unable to find enough attractive long-term investments to meet its investment objective, to meet redemptions and/or when the Manager believes it is advisable to do so during times of short-term market volatility. During these times, cash (and cash equivalents) will not exceed 35% of the Fund’s assets.
Risk [Heading] rr_RiskHeading <span style="color:#0065D2;font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;font-weight:bold;">Principal Risks</span>
Risk Narrative [Text Block] rr_RiskNarrativeTextBlock An investment in the Fund involves risks. The Fund’s share price may go down, which means you could lose money. An investment in the Fund is not a deposit of a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency. The following is a summary description of principal risks involved in investing in the Fund.Investment Risk – An investment in the Fund is subject to investment risk, including the possible loss of the entire principal amount that you invest.Market Risk – Your investment in Fund shares represents an indirect investment in the securities owned by the Fund. The value of these securities, like other investments, may move up or down, sometimes rapidly and unpredictably. Your Fund shares at any point in time may be worth less than what you invested, even after taking into account the reinvestment of Fund dividends and distributions. Local, regional or global events such as environmental or natural disasters, war, terrorism, pandemics, outbreaks of infectious diseases, and similar public health threats, recessions, or other events could have a significant impact on the Fund and its investments.Equity Securities Risk – As with any fund that invests in stocks, your investment will fluctuate in value, and the loss of your investment is a risk of investing. The Fund’s price per share will fluctuate due to changes in the market prices of its investments. Also, the Fund’s investments may not grow as fast as the rate of inflation and stocks tend to be more volatile than some other investments you could make, such as bonds. In addition, there are special risks associated with investing in preferred securities, including deferral and omission of distributions, subordination to bonds and other debt securities in a company’s capital structure, limited liquidity, limited voting rights and special redemption rights. The market value of preferred stocks is generally more sensitive to changes in interest rates than the market value of common stocks.Growth Stocks Risk – Prices of growth stocks tend to be higher in relation to their companies’ earnings and may be more sensitive to market, political and economic developments than other stocks, making their prices more volatile. An investment in the Fund may be better suited to investors who seek long-term capital growth and can tolerate fluctuations in their investment’s value.Income-Producing Securities Risk – Companies may cut or fail to declare dividends due to market downturns or other reasons. Income producing securities may become generally less favored by market participants, potentially leading such securities to underperform the broader stock market.Sector Risk – The Fund may have a significant portion of its assets invested in securities of companies conducting business within a single sector. Companies in the same sector may be similarly affected by economic, regulatory, political or market events or conditions, which may make the Fund more vulnerable to unfavorable developments in that sector than a fund that has a more diversified portfolio. Generally, the more broadly the Fund invests, the more it spreads risk and potentially reduces the risks of loss and volatility.•Technology Companies Risk – The Fund may have a significant portion of its assets invested in securities of technology-related companies. Therefore, the Fund may be more susceptible to particular risks that may affect companies in the information technology sector and technology-related sectors than if it were invested in a wider variety of companies in unrelated sectors. At times, the performance of such companies will lag the performance of other industries or the broader market as a whole. Certain technology related companies may face special risks that their products or services may not prove to be commercially successful. Technology related companies are also strongly affected by worldwide scientific or technological developments. As a result, their products may rapidly become obsolete. Such companies are also often subject to governmental regulation and may, therefore, be adversely affected by governmental policies. These factors may lead to limited earnings and/or failing profit margins. As a result, the value of technology related companies’ securities may fall or fail to rise. Many technology related companies’ securities have historically been more volatile than other securities, especially over the short term.•Healthcare Companies Risk – The Fund may have a significant portion of its assets invested in securities of healthcare companies. At times, the performance of healthcare companies will lag the performance of other industries or the broader market as a whole, and the performance of such companies may be more volatile. Healthcare companies may also be significantly affected by intense competition, aggressive pricing, government regulation, technological innovations, product obsolescence, patent considerations, product compatibility and consumer preferences.•Financial Sector Risk – The Fund may have a significant portion of its assets invested in securities of financial services companies, which means the Fund may be more affected by the performance of the financial sector than a fund that is more diversified. Financial services companies are subject to extensive governmental regulation which may limit both the amounts and types of loans and other financial commitments they can make, the interest rates and fees they can charge, the scope of their activities, the prices they can charge and the amount of capital they must maintain. Certain events in the financial sector may cause an unusually high degree of volatility in the financial markets, both domestic and foreign, and cause certain financial services companies to incur large losses.•Communications Services Sector Risk – Communication services companies are particularly vulnerable to the potential obsolescence of products and services due to technological advancement and the innovation of competitors. Companies in the communication services sector may also be affected by other competitive pressures, such as pricing competition, as well as research and development costs, substantial capital requirements and government regulation. Additionally, fluctuating domestic and international demand, shifting demographics and often unpredictable changes in consumer tastes can drastically affect a communication services company’s profitability. While all companies may be susceptible to network security breaches, certain companies in the communication services sector may be particular targets of hacking and potential theft of proprietary or consumer information or disruptions in service, which could have a material adverse effect on their businesses.Cash Position Risk – At times, the Fund may hold a large cash position, which may underperform relative to equity securities.
Risk Lose Money [Text] rr_RiskLoseMoney <span style="color:#262626;font-family:Arial;font-size:9pt;">The Fund’s share price may go down, which means you could lose money.</span>
Risk Not Insured Depository Institution [Text] rr_RiskNotInsuredDepositoryInstitution <span style="color:#262626;font-family:Arial;font-size:9pt;"> An investment in the Fund is not a deposit of a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.</span>
Bar Chart and Performance Table [Heading] rr_BarChartAndPerformanceTableHeading <span style="color:#0065D2;font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;font-weight:bold;">Performance</span>
Performance Narrative [Text Block] rr_PerformanceNarrativeTextBlock The following bar chart and the table beneath it provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund’s performance from year to year and by showing how the Fund’s average annual returns for the indicated periods compare with those of an appropriate benchmark of market performance. The Fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how it will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available on the Fund’s website www.alger.com.
Performance Information Illustrates Variability of Returns [Text] rr_PerformanceInformationIllustratesVariabilityOfReturns <span style="color:#262626;font-family:Arial;font-size:9pt;">The following bar chart and the table beneath it provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund’s performance from year to year and by showing how the Fund’s average annual returns for the indicated periods compare with those of an appropriate benchmark of market performance.</span>
Performance Availability Website Address [Text] rr_PerformanceAvailabilityWebSiteAddress <span style="color:#262626;font-family:Arial;font-size:9pt;">www.alger.com</span>
Performance Past Does Not Indicate Future [Text] rr_PerformancePastDoesNotIndicateFuture <span style="color:#262626;font-family:Arial;font-size:9pt;"> The Fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how it will perform in the future.</span>
Bar Chart [Heading] rr_BarChartHeading <span style="color:#262626;font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;font-weight:bold;">Annual Total Return for Class Z Shares</span><span style="color:#262626;font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;line-height:12pt;"> </span><span style="color:#262626;font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;font-style:italic;"> as of December 31 (%)</span>
Bar Chart Closing [Text Block] rr_BarChartClosingTextBlock Best Quarter:Q2 202019.68%Worst Quarter:Q1 2020-19.71%
Performance Table Heading rr_PerformanceTableHeading <span style="color:#0065D2;font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;font-weight:bold;">Average Annual Total Return as of December 31, 2021</span>
Performance Table Uses Highest Federal Rate rr_PerformanceTableUsesHighestFederalRate <span style="color:#262626;font-family:Arial;font-size:9pt;">after-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and </span><span style="color:#262626;font-family:Arial;font-size:9pt;">do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes.</span>
Performance Table Not Relevant to Tax Deferred rr_PerformanceTableNotRelevantToTaxDeferred <span style="color:#262626;font-family:Arial;font-size:9pt;"> Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown. The after-tax returns shown may not be relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts.</span>
Performance Table Narrative rr_PerformanceTableNarrativeTextBlock In the foregoing table, after-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown. The after-tax returns shown may not be relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts.
Class Z Shares | Alger Growth and Income Fund - AC | Class Z  
Risk Return Abstract rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment) rr_ShareholderFeeOther none
Advisory Fees rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets 0.50%
Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets none
Other Expenses rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.16%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses rr_ExpensesOverAssets 0.66%
1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 $ 67
3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 211
5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 368
10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 $ 822
2013 rr_AnnualReturn2013 29.58%
2014 rr_AnnualReturn2014 12.44%
2015 rr_AnnualReturn2015 1.44%
2016 rr_AnnualReturn2016 10.51%
2017 rr_AnnualReturn2017 21.00%
2018 rr_AnnualReturn2018 (4.37%)
2019 rr_AnnualReturn2019 29.39%
2020 rr_AnnualReturn2020 15.65%
2021 rr_AnnualReturn2021 31.13%
Highest Quarterly Return, Label rr_HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel <span style="color:#262626;font-family:Arial;font-size:8pt;font-weight:bold;">Best Quarter:</span>
Highest Quarterly Return, Date rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate Jun. 30, 2020
Highest Quarterly Return rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn 19.68%
Lowest Quarterly Return, Label rr_LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel <span style="color:#262626;font-family:Arial;font-size:8pt;font-weight:bold;">Worst Quarter:</span>
Lowest Quarterly Return, Date rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate Mar. 31, 2020
Lowest Quarterly Return rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn (19.71%)
Inception Date rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate Mar. 01, 2012
Class Z Shares | Alger Growth and Income Fund - AC | Return Before Taxes | Class Z  
Risk Return Abstract rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 31.13%
5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 17.82%
Since Inception rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception 14.75%
Class Z Shares | Alger Growth and Income Fund - AC | Return After Taxes on Distributions | Class Z  
Risk Return Abstract rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 29.39%
5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 16.22%
Since Inception rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception 13.32%
Class Z Shares | Alger Growth and Income Fund - AC | Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Shares | Class Z  
Risk Return Abstract rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 19.01%
5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 13.78%
Since Inception rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception 11.69%
Class Z Shares | Alger Growth and Income Fund - AC | S&P 500 Index (reflects no deductions for fees, expenses or taxes)  
Risk Return Abstract rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 28.71%
5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 18.47%
Since Inception rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception 15.76%