Fair Value Of Financial Instruments (Narrative) (Details) (USD $) In Billions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2012
Fair value assumptions expected volatility rate	30.00%
fair value hypothetical increase decrease in volatility rate	5.00%
fair value assumptions credit spread	3.00%
fair value hypothetical increase decrease in credit spread	1.00%
Convertible Debt, Fair Value Disclosures	$ 1.6

This element represents the portion of the balance sheet assertion valued at fair value by the entity whether such amount is presented as a separate caption or as a parenthetical disclosure. Additionally, this element may be used in connection with the fair value disclosures required in the footnote disclosures to the financial statements. The element may be used in both the balance sheet and disclosure in the same submission. Fair value of convertible debt at the balance sheet date.

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Glossary Convertible Security

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6509036

+ Details

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

- Definition

Measure of dispersion, in percentage terms (for instance, the standard deviation or variance), for a given stock price.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 820

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (e)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7578670&loc=d3e19207-110258

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
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Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

fair value assumptions credit spread

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	vrsn_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

fair value hypothetical increase or decrease in credit spread

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	vrsn_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
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- Definition

fair value hypothetical increase decrease in volatility rate

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	vrsn_FairValueHypotheticalIncreaseDecreaseInVolatilityRate
Namespace Prefix:	vrsn_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration