SHORT-TERM BOND FUND OF AMERICA Class A Class 529-A Class C Class 529-C Class 529-E Class F-1 Class F-2 Class F-3 Class 529-F-2 Class 529-F-3 Class R-1 Class R-2 Class R-3 Class R-4 Class R-5 Class R-6 Class R-2E Class R-5E Market conditions [Member] Issuer risks [Member] Investing in debt instruments [Member] Investing in mortgage-related and other asset-backed securities [Member] Investing in securities backed by the U.S. government [Member] Liquidity risk [Member] Investing in inflation-linked bonds [Member] Investing in derivatives [Member] Investments in future delivery contracts [Member] Management [Member] Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Index (reflects no deductions for sales charges, account fees or U.S. federal income taxes) Bloomberg U.S. Government/Credit 1-3 Years ex BBB Index (reflects no deductions for sales charges, account fees, expenses or U.S. federal income taxes) C000036823 Member C000068533 Member Market Conditions Member Investments In Future Delivery Contracts Member C000180010 Member C000036820 Member C000224564 Member C000037882 Member C000036825 Member C000148417 Member C000036818 Member C000164812 Member S000013585 Member Liquidity Risk Member Issuer Risks Member Investing In Derivatives Member C000036819 Member Investing In Mortgagerelated And Other Assetbacked Securities Member C000037879 Member Investing In Inflationlinked Bonds Member C000224563 Member C000036822 Member C000077916 Member Investing In Securities Backed By The USGovernment Member C000036826 Member C000037881 Member ManagementMember index_ Bloomberg_ US_ Government Credit_13_ Years_ex_ BBB_ Index_reflects_no_deductions_for_sales_charges_account_fees_expenses_or_ US_federal_income_taxes Member Investing In Debt Instruments Member index_ Bloomberg_ US_ Aggregate_ Index_reflects_no_deductions_for_sales_charges_account_fees_or_ US_federal_income_taxes Member C000036824 Member