Balance Sheet Details - Deferred Revenue (Detail) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Jan. 24, 2014	Apr. 26, 2013
Deferred Revenue Arrangement [Line Items]
Short-term	$ 1,566.3	$ 1,563.3
Long-term	1,393.0	1,446.2
Short-term and long-term deferred revenue, Total	2,959.3	3,009.5
Product
Deferred Revenue Arrangement [Line Items]
Short-term and long-term deferred revenue, Total	32.4	15.7
Software entitlements and maintenance and service
Deferred Revenue Arrangement [Line Items]
Short-term and long-term deferred revenue, Total	$ 2,926.9	$ 2,993.8

The noncurrent portion of deferred revenue amount as of balance sheet date. Deferred revenue is a liability related to a revenue producing activity for which revenue has not yet been recognized, and is not expected to be recognized in the next twelve months. Generally, an entity records deferred revenue when it receives consideration from a customer before achieving certain criteria that must be met for revenue to be recognized in conformity with GAAP.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 605

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SAB TOPIC 13.A.4(a).Q1)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27012821&loc=d3e214044-122780

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 8

-Subparagraph (b)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=28358313&loc=d3e6935-107765

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Staff Accounting Bulletin (SAB)

-Number Topic 13

-Section A

Name:	us-gaap_DeferredRevenueNoncurrent
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant