Overview, Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies	9 Months Ended
Aug. 05, 2018
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]
Overview, Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies	Overview, Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies Overview Broadcom Inc., a Delaware corporation, is the successor to Broadcom Limited, a company organized under the laws of the Republic of Singapore, or Broadcom-Singapore. As part of the plan to cause the publicly traded parent company of Broadcom to be a Delaware corporation, or the Redomiciliation Transaction, after the close of market trading on April 4, 2018, Broadcom Inc. and Broadcom-Singapore completed a statutory scheme of arrangement under Singapore law pursuant to which all Broadcom-Singapore outstanding ordinary shares were exchanged on a one-for-one basis for newly issued shares of Broadcom Inc. common stock and Broadcom-Singapore became an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Broadcom Inc. In conjunction with the Redomiciliation Transaction, all outstanding exchangeable limited partnership units, or LP Units, of Broadcom Cayman L.P., or the Partnership, were mandatorily exchanged, or the Mandatory Exchange, on a one-for-one basis for newly issued shares of Broadcom Inc. common stock. As a result, all limited partners of the Partnership became common stockholders of Broadcom Inc. In addition, all related outstanding special preference shares of Broadcom-Singapore were automatically redeemed upon the Mandatory Exchange. Consequently, the limited partners no longer hold a noncontrolling interest in the Partnership and we subsequently deregistered the Partnership. The scheme of arrangement was accounted for as an exchange of equity interests among entities under common control. All assets and liabilities of Broadcom-Singapore were assumed by Broadcom Inc., resulting in the retention of the historical basis of accounting as if they had always been combined for accounting and financial reporting purposes. The financial statements for periods prior to April 4, 2018, the effective date of the Redomiciliation Transaction, relate to Broadcom-Singapore and relate to Broadcom Inc. for periods after April 4, 2018. Unless stated otherwise or the context otherwise requires, references to “Broadcom,” “we,” “our” and “us” mean Broadcom Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries from and after the effective time of the Redomiciliation Transaction and, prior to that time, to our predecessor, Broadcom-Singapore. We are a leading designer, developer and global supplier of a broad range of semiconductor devices with a focus on complex digital and mixed signal complementary metal oxide semiconductor based devices and analog III-V based products. We have a history of innovation and offer thousands of products that are used in end products such as enterprise and data center networking, home connectivity, set-top boxes, broadband access, telecommunication equipment, smartphones and base stations, data center servers and storage systems, factory automation, power generation and alternative energy systems, and electronic displays. We have four reportable segments: wired infrastructure, wireless communications, enterprise storage and industrial & other, which align with our principal target markets. Basis of Presentation We operate on a 52- or 53-week fiscal year ending on the Sunday closest to October 31 in a 52-week year and the first Sunday in November in a 53-week year. Our fiscal year ending November 4, 2018, or fiscal year 2018, is a 53-week fiscal year, with our first fiscal quarter containing 14 weeks. The first quarter of our fiscal year 2018 ended on February 4, 2018, the second quarter ended on May 6, 2018 and the third quarter ended on August 5, 2018. Our fiscal year ended October 29, 2017, or fiscal year 2017, was a 52-week fiscal year. On November 17, 2017, we acquired Brocade Communications Systems, Inc., or Brocade. The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements include the results of operations of Brocade commencing as of the acquisition date. See Note 2. “Acquisitions” for additional information. The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Broadcom and our subsidiaries, and have been prepared by us in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States, or GAAP, for interim financial information. The financial information included herein is unaudited, and reflects all adjustments which are, in the opinion of our management, of a normal recurring nature and necessary for a fair statement of the results for the periods presented. The October 29, 2017 condensed consolidated balance sheet data were derived from Broadcom-Singapore’s audited consolidated financial statements included in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for fiscal year 2017 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, but do not include all disclosures required by GAAP. All intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated in consolidation. The operating results for the fiscal quarter and three fiscal quarters ended August 5, 2018 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for fiscal year 2018, or for any other future period. Significant Accounting Policies Use of estimates. The preparation of 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 condensed consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates, and such differences could affect the results of operations reported in future periods. Reclassifications. Certain reclassifications have been made to the prior period condensed consolidated statement of cash flows. These reclassifications had no impact on the previously reported net cash activities. Recently Adopted Accounting Guidance In the first quarter of fiscal year 2018, we early adopted guidance issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board, or FASB, in October 2016 related to the recognition of income tax consequences of an intra-entity transfer of an asset other than inventory. The standard requires a modified-retrospective transition method by means of a cumulative-effect adjustment as of the beginning of the period in which the guidance is adopted. The adoption of this guidance resulted in a decrease in current and long-term prepaid tax expense of $67 million and $199 million, respectively, an increase of $252 million to our accumulated deficit and a decrease of $14 million to our noncontrolling interest. In the second quarter of fiscal year 2018, we early adopted guidance issued by the FASB in February 2018 that allows companies to reclassify stranded income tax effects resulting from the U.S. Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, or the 2017 Tax Reform Act, from accumulated other comprehensive loss to retained earnings. The stranded income tax effects resulted from the change in the federal tax rate for deferred taxes recorded in accumulated other comprehensive loss. The adoption of this guidance resulted in a cumulative-effect adjustment as of the beginning of the second quarter of fiscal year 2018, which consisted of an increase to our accumulated other comprehensive loss of $16 million, an increase to retained earnings of $15 million and a $1 million increase to noncontrolling interest. Recent Accounting Guidance Not Yet Adopted In August 2016, the FASB issued guidance related to the classification of certain transactions on the statement of cash flows. This guidance will be effective for the first quarter of our fiscal year 2019 on a retrospective basis; and early adoption is permitted. We do not intend to adopt this guidance early and will present our statements of cash flows in accordance with this guidance upon adoption. In February 2016, the FASB issued guidance related to the accounting for leases, which among other things, requires a lessee to recognize lease assets and lease liabilities on the balance sheet for operating leases. This guidance will be effective for the first quarter of our fiscal year 2020. The new guidance is required to be applied using a modified retrospective approach. We are evaluating the impact this guidance will have on our condensed consolidated financial statements. In May 2014, the FASB issued guidance that outlines a single comprehensive model for entities to use in accounting for revenue arising from contracts with customers and supersedes most current revenue recognition guidance. The new standard creates a single source of revenue guidance under GAAP, eliminating industry-specific guidance. The underlying principle of the standard is to recognize revenue when a customer obtains control of promised goods or services at an amount that reflects the consideration that is expected to be received in exchange for those goods or services. An entity should apply a five-step approach for recognizing revenue as follows: (i) identify the contract with a customer; (ii) identify the performance obligations in the contract; (iii) determine the transaction price; (iv) allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract; and (v) recognize revenue when, or as, the entity satisfies a performance obligation. The standard also requires increased disclosures including the nature, amount, timing, and uncertainty of revenues and cash flows related to contracts with customers. The standard allows two methods of adoption: (i) retrospectively to each prior period presented (“full retrospective method”) or (ii) retrospectively with the cumulative effect recognized in retained earnings as of the date of adoption ("modified retrospective method"). We plan to adopt the new standard using the modified retrospective method at the beginning of the first quarter of fiscal year 2019. We have established a cross-functional team to assess the potential impact of the new revenue standard and are on schedule in establishing new accounting policies, processes, and internal controls necessary to support the requirements of the new standard. While we are still finalizing our analysis to quantify the adoption impact of the provisions of the new standard, the exact impact of the new standard will be dependent on facts and circumstances at adoption.

Overview, Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies

Overview

Broadcom Inc., a Delaware corporation, is the successor to Broadcom Limited, a company organized under the laws of the Republic of Singapore, or Broadcom-Singapore. As part of the plan to cause the publicly traded parent company of Broadcom to be a Delaware corporation, or the Redomiciliation Transaction, after the close of market trading on April 4, 2018, Broadcom Inc. and Broadcom-Singapore completed a statutory scheme of arrangement under Singapore law pursuant to which all Broadcom-Singapore outstanding ordinary shares were exchanged on a one-for-one basis for newly issued shares of Broadcom Inc. common stock and Broadcom-Singapore became an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Broadcom Inc.

In conjunction with the Redomiciliation Transaction, all outstanding exchangeable limited partnership units, or LP Units, of Broadcom Cayman L.P., or the Partnership, were mandatorily exchanged, or the Mandatory Exchange, on a one-for-one basis for newly issued shares of Broadcom Inc. common stock. As a result, all limited partners of the Partnership became common stockholders of Broadcom Inc. In addition, all related outstanding special preference shares of Broadcom-Singapore were automatically redeemed upon the Mandatory Exchange. Consequently, the limited partners no longer hold a noncontrolling interest in the Partnership and we subsequently deregistered the Partnership.

The scheme of arrangement was accounted for as an exchange of equity interests among entities under common control. All assets and liabilities of Broadcom-Singapore were assumed by Broadcom Inc., resulting in the retention of the historical basis of accounting as if they had always been combined for accounting and financial reporting purposes.

The financial statements for periods prior to April 4, 2018, the effective date of the Redomiciliation Transaction, relate to Broadcom-Singapore and relate to Broadcom Inc. for periods after April 4, 2018. Unless stated otherwise or the context otherwise requires, references to “Broadcom,” “we,” “our” and “us” mean Broadcom Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries from and after the effective time of the Redomiciliation Transaction and, prior to that time, to our predecessor, Broadcom-Singapore.

We are a leading designer, developer and global supplier of a broad range of semiconductor devices with a focus on complex digital and mixed signal complementary metal oxide semiconductor based devices and analog III-V based products. We have a history of innovation and offer thousands of products that are used in end products such as enterprise and data center networking, home connectivity, set-top boxes, broadband access, telecommunication equipment, smartphones and base stations, data center servers and storage systems, factory automation, power generation and alternative energy systems, and electronic displays. We have four reportable segments: wired infrastructure, wireless communications, enterprise storage and industrial & other, which align with our principal target markets.

Basis of Presentation

We operate on a 52- or 53-week fiscal year ending on the Sunday closest to October 31 in a 52-week year and the first Sunday in November in a 53-week year. Our fiscal year ending November 4, 2018, or fiscal year 2018, is a 53-week fiscal year, with our first fiscal quarter containing 14 weeks. The first quarter of our fiscal year 2018 ended on February 4, 2018, the second quarter ended on May 6, 2018 and the third quarter ended on August 5, 2018. Our fiscal year ended October 29, 2017, or fiscal year 2017, was a 52-week fiscal year.

On November 17, 2017, we acquired Brocade Communications Systems, Inc., or Brocade. The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements include the results of operations of Brocade commencing as of the acquisition date. See Note 2. “Acquisitions” for additional information.

The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Broadcom and our subsidiaries, and have been prepared by us in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States, or GAAP, for interim financial information. The financial information included herein is unaudited, and reflects all adjustments which are, in the opinion of our management, of a normal recurring nature and necessary for a fair statement of the results for the periods presented. The October 29, 2017 condensed consolidated balance sheet data were derived from Broadcom-Singapore’s audited consolidated financial statements included in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for fiscal year 2017 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, but do not include all disclosures required by GAAP. All intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated in consolidation. The operating results for the fiscal quarter and three fiscal quarters ended August 5, 2018 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for fiscal year 2018, or for any other future period.

Significant Accounting Policies

Use of estimates. The preparation of 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 condensed consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates, and such differences could affect the results of operations reported in future periods.

Reclassifications. Certain reclassifications have been made to the prior period condensed consolidated statement of cash flows. These reclassifications had no impact on the previously reported net cash activities.

Recently Adopted Accounting Guidance

In the first quarter of fiscal year 2018, we early adopted guidance issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board, or FASB, in October 2016 related to the recognition of income tax consequences of an intra-entity transfer of an asset other than inventory. The standard requires a modified-retrospective transition method by means of a cumulative-effect adjustment as of the beginning of the period in which the guidance is adopted. The adoption of this guidance resulted in a decrease in current and long-term prepaid tax expense of $67 million and $199 million, respectively, an increase of $252 million to our accumulated deficit and a decrease of $14 million to our noncontrolling interest.

In the second quarter of fiscal year 2018, we early adopted guidance issued by the FASB in February 2018 that allows companies to reclassify stranded income tax effects resulting from the U.S. Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, or the 2017 Tax Reform Act, from accumulated other comprehensive loss to retained earnings. The stranded income tax effects resulted from the change in the federal tax rate for deferred taxes recorded in accumulated other comprehensive loss. The adoption of this guidance resulted in a cumulative-effect adjustment as of the beginning of the second quarter of fiscal year 2018, which consisted of an increase to our accumulated other comprehensive loss of $16 million, an increase to retained earnings of $15 million and a $1 million increase to noncontrolling interest.

Recent Accounting Guidance Not Yet Adopted

In August 2016, the FASB issued guidance related to the classification of certain transactions on the statement of cash flows. This guidance will be effective for the first quarter of our fiscal year 2019 on a retrospective basis; and early adoption is permitted. We do not intend to adopt this guidance early and will present our statements of cash flows in accordance with this guidance upon adoption.

In February 2016, the FASB issued guidance related to the accounting for leases, which among other things, requires a lessee to recognize lease assets and lease liabilities on the balance sheet for operating leases. This guidance will be effective for the first quarter of our fiscal year 2020. The new guidance is required to be applied using a modified retrospective approach. We are evaluating the impact this guidance will have on our condensed consolidated financial statements.

In May 2014, the FASB issued guidance that outlines a single comprehensive model for entities to use in accounting for revenue arising from contracts with customers and supersedes most current revenue recognition guidance. The new standard creates a single source of revenue guidance under GAAP, eliminating industry-specific guidance. The underlying principle of the standard is to recognize revenue when a customer obtains control of promised goods or services at an amount that reflects the consideration that is expected to be received in exchange for those goods or services. An entity should apply a five-step approach for recognizing revenue as follows: (i) identify the contract with a customer; (ii) identify the performance obligations in the contract; (iii) determine the transaction price; (iv) allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract; and (v) recognize revenue when, or as, the entity satisfies a performance obligation. The standard also requires increased disclosures including the nature, amount, timing, and uncertainty of revenues and cash flows related to contracts with customers.

The standard allows two methods of adoption: (i) retrospectively to each prior period presented (“full retrospective method”) or (ii) retrospectively with the cumulative effect recognized in retained earnings as of the date of adoption ("modified retrospective method"). We plan to adopt the new standard using the modified retrospective method at the beginning of the first quarter of fiscal year 2019. We have established a cross-functional team to assess the potential impact of the new revenue standard and are on schedule in establishing new accounting policies, processes, and internal controls necessary to support the requirements of the new standard. While we are still finalizing our analysis to quantify the adoption impact of the provisions of the new standard, the exact impact of the new standard will be dependent on facts and circumstances at adoption.