This study examines aspects of the muhtasib's authority in Algiers during the Ottoman period. It does so through a reading of foreign source texts written by travelers, captives, and diplomats on the city and its political, administrative, social, economic, and religious systems from the sixteenth century to the early nineteenth century. The study seeks to identify the features of the muhtasib's authority as one of the leading actors in Algiers's urban administration. It focuses on his roles and interventions in managing the market district, supervising craft organizations, monitoring them, and enforcing penalties against offenders. It also examines the mechanisms through which he exercised authority, as well as its limits and effectiveness. Finally, it discusses the changes that affected the institution's autonomy and powers during the three centuries of Ottoman presence in the city. This helps clarify the muhtasib's position and status within the administrative apparatus.