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Derivative, General Contract Maturity

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New Accounting Pronouncement or Change in Accounting Principle, Effect of Adoption, Quantification on Deferred Income Taxes, Non-Current

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New Accounting Pronouncement or Change in Accounting Principle, Effect of Adoption, Reclassification from Other Assets

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Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]

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Aggregate notional amount specified by the derivative(s). Expressed as an absolute value.

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Accumulated change, net of tax, in accumulated gains and losses from derivative instruments designated and qualifying as the effective portion of cash flow hedges. Includes an entity's share of an equity investee's Increase or Decrease in deferred hedging gains or losses.

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Weighted average amortization period of finite-lived intangible assets acquired either individually or as part of a group of assets, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

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Amount charged to advertising expense for the period, which are expenses incurred with the objective of increasing revenue for a specified brand, product or product line.

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For an unclassified balance sheet, a valuation allowance for receivables due a company that are expected to be uncollectible.

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A valuation allowance for trade and other receivables due to an Entity within one year (or the normal operating cycle, whichever is longer) that are expected to be uncollectible.

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A valuation allowance for receivables due to an Entity for more than one year from the balance sheet date that are expected to be uncollectible.

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Additions made to capitalized computer software costs during the period.

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For each income statement presented, the amount charged to expense for amortization of capitalized computer software costs.

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Amount before accumulated amortization of capitalized costs for computer software, including but not limited to, acquired and internally developed computer software.

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The effective portion of net gain (loss) reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income into income on derivative instruments designated and qualifying as hedging instruments.

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Amount before tax of foreign currency transaction realized and unrealized gain (loss) recognized in the income statement.

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The parent entity's interest in net assets of the subsidiary, expressed as a percentage.

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Useful life of long lived, physical assets used in the normal conduct of business and not intended for resale, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days. Examples include, but not limited to, land, buildings, machinery and equipment, office equipment, furniture and fixtures, and computer equipment.

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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Jun. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2010
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
New Accounting Pronouncement or Change in Accounting Principle, Effect of Adoption, Reclassification from Deferred Income Taxes, Current		$ (1,070)
New Accounting Pronouncement or Change in Accounting Principle, Effect of Adoption, Reclassification from Deferred Income Taxes, Non-Current		(274)
New Accounting Pronouncement or Change in Accounting Principle, Effect of Adoption, Reclassification from Other Assets		(156)
Foreign currency translation
Net gains (losses) from foreign currency transactions	$ 18	(30)	$ (2)
Allowance for doubtful accounts receivable
Current	90	72
Non-current (included in other assets, net)	2	2
Allowance for doubtful accounts receivable, total	92	74
Software development costs
Unamortized software development costs	934	829
Amortization expense for software development costs	514	482	427
Capitalized amounts for software development costs	619	549	487
Advertising
Advertising costs	29	25	23
Cash Flow Hedging
Derivatives
Derivative, Notional Amount	473	245	384
Interest rate swap contract
Derivatives
Derivative, Notional Amount					$ 900
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Cumulative Changes in Net Gain (Loss) from Cash Flow Hedges, Effect Net of Tax				$ (176)
Accounting for immaterial prior period accounting error
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) Reclassified from Accumulated OCI into Income, Effective Portion, Net	$ 22	$ 11	$ 0
Minimum
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Weighted-average useful life	1 year
Maximum
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Weighted-average useful life	20 years
Cash and cash equivalent, General Contract Maturity	90 days
Maximum \| Foreign Exchange Contract
Derivatives
Contract maturity	1 year
Maximum \| Cash Flow Hedging
Derivatives
Contract maturity	6 months
Furniture and fixtures \| Minimum
Property, plant and equipment
Useful life (in years)	5 years
Furniture and fixtures \| Maximum
Property, plant and equipment
Useful life (in years)	10 years
Equipment and software \| Minimum
Property, plant and equipment
Useful life (in years)	2 years
Equipment and software \| Maximum
Property, plant and equipment
Useful life (in years)	10 years
Improvements \| Minimum
Property, plant and equipment
Useful life (in years)	5 years
Improvements \| Maximum
Property, plant and equipment
Useful life (in years)	31 years
Buildings \| Minimum
Property, plant and equipment
Useful life (in years)	15 years
Buildings \| Maximum
Property, plant and equipment
Useful life (in years)	51 years
Pivotal
Principles of consolidation
Noncontrolling Interest, Ownership Percentage by Parent	83.00%	84.00%
VMware
Principles of consolidation
Noncontrolling Interest, Ownership Percentage by Parent	81.00%	80.00%