Description of Business and Accounting Policies - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012 Entity	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Number of primary customer sets	4
Number of principal segments	2
Accounts receivable, net	$ 3,364,000,000	$ 2,571,000,000
Allowance for doubtful accounts	116,000,000	82,000,000
Capitalized costs associated with internal-use software and website development	454,000,000	307,000,000	213,000,000
Capitalized costs associated with internal-use software and website development, stock-based compensation	74,000,000	51,000,000	38,000,000
Capitalized costs associated with internal-use software and website development, amortization of previously capitalized amounts	327,000,000	236,000,000	184,000,000
Estimated useful lives of assets description	Depreciation is recorded on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives of the assets (generally the lesser of 40 years or the remaining life of the underlying building,
Unredeemed gift certificates	1,100,000,000	788,000,000
Non-current unearned revenue	108,000,000	87,000,000
Current unearned revenue	792,000,000	462,000,000
Undistributed earnings of foreign subsidiaries that are indefinitely invested outside of the U.S	2,100,000,000
Tax benefit percentage of being realized upon ultimate settlement	50.00%
Advertising and other promotional costs	2,000,000,000	1,400,000,000	890,000,000
Foreign currency transaction gain (loss)	(95,000,000)	64,000,000	75,000,000
Marketable Securities realized gain (loss)	10,000,000	4,000,000	1,000,000
Transaction gains and losses arising from foreign currency transactions	(95,000,000)	70,000,000	70,000,000
Certificate without an expiration date
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Unredeemed gift certificates, period of recognition	2 years
Living Social
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Equity investment, ownership percentage	29.00%
Vendor Receivable
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Accounts receivable, net	1,100,000,000	934,000,000
Customer Receivable
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Accounts receivable, net	$ 1,500,000,000	$ 1,200,000,000
Maximum
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Cash equivalents maturity period	3 months
Building | Maximum
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Estimated useful lives of assets	40 years
Internal use Software, Content and Website Development
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Estimated useful lives of assets	2 years
Servers
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Estimated useful lives of assets	3 years
Network Equipment
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Estimated useful lives of assets	5 years
Furniture and Fixtures
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Estimated useful lives of assets	5 years
Equipment
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Estimated useful lives of assets	10 years
Digital Video Content | Maximum
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Digital video content licensing agreements term	5 years
Digital video content amortization period	5 years
Digital Video Content | Minimum
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Digital video content licensing agreements term	1 year
Digital video content amortization period	6 months