Description of Business and Significant Accounting Policies	9 Months Ended
Jan. 29, 2016
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Description of Business and Significant Accounting Policies	1. Description of Business and Significant Accounting Policies NetApp, Inc. (we, us, or the Company) provides software, systems and services to manage and store computer data. We enable enterprises, service providers, governmental organizations, and partners to envision, deploy and evolve their information technology environments and to reduce costs and risk while driving growth and success for their organizations. Basis of Presentation and Preparation Our fiscal year is reported on a 52- or 53-week year ending on the last Friday in April. An additional week is included in the first fiscal quarter approximately every six years to realign fiscal months with calendar months. Fiscal year 2016, ending on April 29, 2016, is a 53-week year, with 14 weeks in its first quarter and 13 weeks in each subsequent quarter. Fiscal year 2015, which ended on April 24, 2015, was a 52-week year, with 13 weeks in each of its quarters. The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared by the Company, and reflect all adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring adjustments, that are, in the opinion of management, necessary for the fair presentation of our financial position, results of operations, comprehensive income (loss) and cash flows for the interim periods presented. The statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP) for interim financial information and in accordance with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Rule 10-01 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, these statements do not include all information and footnotes required by GAAP for annual consolidated financial statements, and should be read in conjunction with our audited consolidated financial statements as of and for the fiscal year ended April 24, 2015 contained in our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 12, 2015. The results of operations for the three and nine months ended January 29, 2016 are not necessarily indicative of the operating results to be expected for the full fiscal year or future operating periods. The preparation of the condensed consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting periods. Such estimates include, but are not limited to, revenue recognition, reserves and allowances; inventory valuation and purchase order accruals; valuation of goodwill and intangibles; restructuring reserves; product warranties; employee benefit accruals; stock-based compensation; loss contingencies; investment impairments; income taxes and fair value measurements. Actual results could differ materially from those estimates. During the three months ended January 29, 2016, we adopted an accounting standard that simplified the presentation of deferred taxes by requiring deferred tax assets and liabilities to be classified as noncurrent in a classified statement of financial position. We have adopted this accounting standard prospectively. Accordingly, the prior period amounts in our condensed consolidated balance sheets within this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q were not adjusted to conform to the new accounting standard. The adoption of this accounting standard was not material to our condensed consolidated financial statements. There have been no significant changes in our significant accounting policies as of and for the nine months ended January 29, 2016, as compared to the significant accounting policies described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended April 24, 2015.

1. Description of Business and Significant Accounting Policies

NetApp, Inc. (we, us, or the Company) provides software, systems and services to manage and store computer data. We enable enterprises, service providers, governmental organizations, and partners to envision, deploy and evolve their information technology environments and to reduce costs and risk while driving growth and success for their organizations.

Basis of Presentation and Preparation

Our fiscal year is reported on a 52- or 53-week year ending on the last Friday in April. An additional week is included in the first fiscal quarter approximately every six years to realign fiscal months with calendar months. Fiscal year 2016, ending on April 29, 2016, is a 53-week year, with 14 weeks in its first quarter and 13 weeks in each subsequent quarter. Fiscal year 2015, which ended on April 24, 2015, was a 52-week year, with 13 weeks in each of its quarters.

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared by the Company, and reflect all adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring adjustments, that are, in the opinion of management, necessary for the fair presentation of our financial position, results of operations, comprehensive income (loss) and cash flows for the interim periods presented. The statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP) for interim financial information and in accordance with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Rule 10-01 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, these statements do not include all information and footnotes required by GAAP for annual consolidated financial statements, and should be read in conjunction with our audited consolidated financial statements as of and for the fiscal year ended April 24, 2015 contained in our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 12, 2015. The results of operations for the three and nine months ended January 29, 2016 are not necessarily indicative of the operating results to be expected for the full fiscal year or future operating periods.

The preparation of the condensed consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting periods. Such estimates include, but are not limited to, revenue recognition, reserves and allowances; inventory valuation and purchase order accruals; valuation of goodwill and intangibles; restructuring reserves; product warranties; employee benefit accruals; stock-based compensation; loss contingencies; investment impairments; income taxes and fair value measurements. Actual results could differ materially from those estimates.

During the three months ended January 29, 2016, we adopted an accounting standard that simplified the presentation of deferred taxes by requiring deferred tax assets and liabilities to be classified as noncurrent in a classified statement of financial position. We have adopted this accounting standard prospectively. Accordingly, the prior period amounts in our condensed consolidated balance sheets within this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q were not adjusted to conform to the new accounting standard. The adoption of this accounting standard was not material to our condensed consolidated financial statements.

There have been no significant changes in our significant accounting policies as of and for the nine months ended January 29, 2016, as compared to the significant accounting policies described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended April 24, 2015.