Organization and Basis of Presentation	9 Months Ended
Sep. 25, 2015
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]
Organization and Basis of Presentation	Organization and Basis of Presentation The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements of Altera Corporation and its subsidiaries, collectively referred to herein as “Altera”, “we”, “us”, or “our”, have been prepared by us in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”) for interim financial information. This financial information 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 December 31, 2014 consolidated balance sheet data was derived from our audited consolidated financial statements included in our 2014 Annual Report on Form 10-K, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), but does not include all disclosures required by U.S. GAAP. The consolidated financial statements include our accounts as well as those of our wholly-owned subsidiaries after elimination of all significant inter-company balances and transactions. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in our consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ materially from those estimates. These consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with our audited consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2014 included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K. The consolidated operating results for the three months and nine months ended September 25, 2015 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for any future period. Certain prior year amounts in the consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto have been reclassified to conform to the current year presentation. These reclassifications did not affect the prior period total assets, total liabilities, stockholders' equity, net income or net cash provided by operating activities. Pending Merger with Intel Corporation On May 31, 2015, Altera entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “Merger Agreement”) with Intel Corporation (“Intel”) and 615 Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of Intel (“Merger Sub”). The Merger Agreement provides for the merger of Merger Sub with and into Altera (the “Merger”), with Altera surviving the Merger as a wholly owned subsidiary of Intel. At the effective time of the Merger, each share of common stock issued and outstanding immediately prior to the effective time (other than shares held by (1) Intel, Altera or their respective subsidiaries; or (2) stockholders who have properly exercised and perfected appraisal rights under Delaware law) will be cancelled and extinguished and automatically converted into the right to receive cash in an amount equal to $54.00, without interest thereon (the “Per Share Amount”). In addition, subject to certain exceptions, unvested option awards, restricted stock unit awards and performance-based restricted stock unit awards will be converted into corresponding awards of Intel common stock pursuant to an exchange ratio determined based on Intel’s stock price at closing, with generally the same terms and conditions applicable to the original awards. Altera’s stockholders approved the Merger at a special meeting held on October 6, 2015. The waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976 expired on September 4, 2015, which satisfies the United States regulatory approval requirements for the Merger. On October 14, 2015, the European Commission granted unconditional regulatory clearance of the Merger, which satisfies another condition to close the Merger. The consummation of the Merger is conditioned on the satisfaction of other customary closing conditions, including additional foreign regulatory approvals and performance in all material respects by each party of its obligations under the Merger Agreement. The Merger is currently expected to close within six to nine months of June 1, 2015. The Merger is not conditioned upon Intel’s receipt of financing. The Merger Agreement contains certain termination rights for Altera and Intel, including if a governmental body prohibits the Merger or if the Merger is not consummated before May 31, 2016, subject to certain extension rights. Upon termination of the Merger Agreement under specified circumstances, Altera or Intel will be required to pay the other party a termination fee of $500 million. In certain other circumstances, Altera will be required to reimburse Intel’s expenses up to $60 million if the Merger Agreement is terminated.

Organization and Basis of Presentation

The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements of Altera Corporation and its subsidiaries, collectively referred to herein as “Altera”, “we”, “us”, or “our”, have been prepared by us in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”) for interim financial information. This financial information 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 December 31, 2014 consolidated balance sheet data was derived from our audited consolidated financial statements included in our 2014 Annual Report on Form 10-K, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), but does not include all disclosures required by U.S. GAAP. The consolidated financial statements include our accounts as well as those of our wholly-owned subsidiaries after elimination of all significant inter-company balances and transactions.

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in our consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ materially from those estimates.

These consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with our audited consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2014 included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K. The consolidated operating results for the three months and nine months ended September 25, 2015 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for any future period.

Certain prior year amounts in the consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto have been reclassified to conform to the current year presentation. These reclassifications did not affect the prior period total assets, total liabilities, stockholders' equity, net income or net cash provided by operating activities.

Pending Merger with Intel Corporation

On May 31, 2015, Altera entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “Merger Agreement”) with Intel Corporation (“Intel”) and 615 Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of Intel (“Merger Sub”). The Merger Agreement provides for the merger of Merger Sub with and into Altera (the “Merger”), with Altera surviving the Merger as a wholly owned subsidiary of Intel. At the effective time of the Merger, each share of common stock issued and outstanding immediately prior to the effective time (other than shares held by (1) Intel, Altera or their respective subsidiaries; or (2) stockholders who have properly exercised and perfected appraisal rights under Delaware law) will be cancelled and extinguished and automatically converted into the right to receive cash in an amount equal to $54.00, without interest thereon (the “Per Share Amount”). In addition, subject to certain exceptions, unvested option awards, restricted stock unit awards and performance-based restricted stock unit awards will be converted into corresponding awards of Intel common stock pursuant to an exchange ratio determined based on Intel’s stock price at closing, with generally the same terms and conditions applicable to the original awards.

Altera’s stockholders approved the Merger at a special meeting held on October 6, 2015. The waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976 expired on September 4, 2015, which satisfies the United States regulatory approval requirements for the Merger. On October 14, 2015, the European Commission granted unconditional regulatory clearance of the Merger, which satisfies another condition to close the Merger. The consummation of the Merger is conditioned on the satisfaction of other customary closing conditions, including additional foreign regulatory approvals and performance in all material respects by each party of its obligations under the Merger Agreement. The Merger is currently expected to close within six to nine months of June 1, 2015. The Merger is not conditioned upon Intel’s receipt of financing.

The Merger Agreement contains certain termination rights for Altera and Intel, including if a governmental body prohibits the Merger or if the Merger is not consummated before May 31, 2016, subject to certain extension rights. Upon termination of the Merger Agreement under specified circumstances, Altera or Intel will be required to pay the other party a termination fee of $500 million. In certain other circumstances, Altera will be required to reimburse Intel’s expenses up to $60 million if the Merger Agreement is terminated.