AMERICAN FUNDS SHORT-TERM TAX-EXEMPT BOND FUND (Class A, Class F-1, Class F-2, Class F-3) AMERICAN FUNDS SHORT-TERM TAX-EXEMPT BOND FUND (Class R-6) AMERICAN FUNDS SHORT-TERM TAX-EXEMPT BOND FUND Class A Class F-1 Class F-2 Class F-3 Class R-6 Market conditions [Member] Issuer risks [Member] Investing in municipal securities [Member] Investing in debt instruments [Member] Liquidity risk [Member] Credit and liquidity support [Member] Investing in similar municipal bonds [Member] Insured municipal bonds [Member] Management [Member] Bloomberg Municipal Bond Index (reflects no deductions for sales charges, account fees, expenses or U.S. federal income taxes) Bloomberg Municipal Short 1-5 Years Index (reflects no deductions for sales charges, account fees, expenses or U.S. federal income taxes) Bloomberg Municipal Short 1-5 Years Index (reflects no deductions for sales charges, account fees or U.S. federal income taxes) C000179995 Member Issuer Risks Member Credit And Liquidity Support Member index_ Bloomberg_ Municipal_ Bond_ Index_reflects_no_deductions_for_sales_charges_account_fees_expenses_or_ US_federal_income_taxes Member C000025125 Member Market Conditions Member C000079135 Member C000186457 Member Insured Municipal Bonds Member Investing In Similar Municipal Bonds Member doc_ AMERICAN_ FUNDS_ SHORTTERM_ TAXEXEMPT_ BOND_ FUND_ Class_ A_ Class_ F1_ Class_ F2_ Class_ F3 Member S000009233 Member index_ Bloomberg_ Municipal_ Short_15_ Years_ Index_reflects_no_deductions_for_sales_charges_account_fees_expenses_or_ US_federal_income_taxes Member ManagementMember doc_ AMERICAN_ FUNDS_ SHORTTERM_ TAXEXEMPT_ BOND_ FUND_ Class_ R6 Member Investing In Debt Instruments Member C000079136 Member index_ Bloomberg_ Municipal_ Short_15_ Years_ Index_reflects_no_deductions_for_sales_charges_account_fees_or_ US_federal_income_taxes Member Investing In Municipal Securities Member Liquidity Risk Member