Note 15 - Share-based Compensation (Details Textual) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2024	Mar. 31, 2023
Share-based Payment Arrangement, Nonvested Award, Option, Cost Not yet Recognized, Amount	$ 0
Share-Based Payment Arrangement, Expense	$ 2,839	$ 2,290
Share-Based Payment Arrangement, Option [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Award Vesting Period (Year)	4 years
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Expiration Period (Year)	10 years
Share-Based Payment Arrangement, Option [Member] \| Exercisable on the First Anniversary Date Following the Date of Grant [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Award Vesting Rights, Percentage	25.00%
Share-Based Payment Arrangement, Option [Member] \| Exercisable on Semi-annual Basis [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Award Vesting Rights, Percentage	12.50%
Performance Shares [Member]
Share-Based Payment Arrangement, Expense	$ 1,000	$ 400
Share-Based Payment Arrangement, Nonvested Award, Cost Not yet Recognized, Amount	$ 5,500
Share-Based Payment Arrangement, Nonvested Award, Cost Not yet Recognized, Period for Recognition (Year)	2 years
Performance Shares [Member] \| Minimum [Member]
Sharebased Compensation Arrangement By Sharebased Payment Award Performance Award Value Percentage Of Based Amount	0.00%
Performance Shares [Member] \| Maximum [Member]
Sharebased Compensation Arrangement By Sharebased Payment Award Performance Award Value Percentage Of Based Amount	200.00%
Performance Shares [Member] \| Vesting on the Third Anniversary [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Award Vesting Rights, Percentage	100.00%
Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) [Member]
Share-Based Payment Arrangement, Nonvested Award, Cost Not yet Recognized, Amount	$ 10,900
Share-Based Payment Arrangement, Nonvested Award, Cost Not yet Recognized, Period for Recognition (Year)	2 years 4 months 24 days

Represents Share-based Payment Award Performance Award Value Percentage Of Based Amount.

No definition available.

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Namespace Prefix:	aaoi_
Data Type:	dtr-types:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of expense for award under share-based payment arrangement. Excludes amount capitalized.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 718
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SAB Topic 14.F)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147479830/718-10-S99-1

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 718
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (h)(1)(i)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147480429/718-10-50-2

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of cost not yet recognized for nonvested award under share-based payment arrangement.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 718
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (i)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147480429/718-10-50-2

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
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- Definition

Weighted-average period over which cost not yet recognized is expected to be recognized for award under share-based payment arrangement, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

+ References

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
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- Definition

Amount of cost to be recognized for option under share-based payment arrangement.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Topic 718
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (i)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147480429/718-10-50-2

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
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- Definition

Period over which grantee's right to exercise award under share-based payment arrangement is no longer contingent on satisfaction of service or performance condition, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days. Includes, but is not limited to, combination of market, performance or service condition.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/exampleRef
-Topic 718
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (a)(1)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147480429/718-10-50-2

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
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Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Percentage of vesting of award under share-based payment arrangement.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Topic 718
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (a)(1)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147480429/718-10-50-2

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	dtr-types:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Period from grant date that an equity-based award expires, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/exampleRef
-Topic 718
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (a)(2)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147480429/718-10-50-2

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