Income Taxes - Additional Information (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Operating Loss Carryforwards [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 Other Assets		(156)
New Accounting Pronouncement or Change in Accounting Principle, Effect of Adoption, Reclassification from Deferred Income Taxes, Non-Current		(274)
Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation, Tax Credit, Research, Percent			3.50%
Net operating loss carryforwards and tax credit carryforwards	$ 57	$ 34	$ 54
International reorganization of acquired companies	0.00%	0.00%	0.60%
Effective income tax rate	24.60%	23.10%	20.00%
Net operating loss carryforward, federal	$ 250
Net operating loss carryforward, state	250
Net operating loss carryforward, foreign	224
Valuation allowance	144	$ 126
Basis differences related to investments in foreign subsidiaries consisted of undistributed earnings	11,800
Income before income taxes from foreign operations	1,600	1,800	$ 2,300
Income before income taxes from domestic operations	1,200	2,000	1,600
Total cash and investments	14,783	14,655
Unrecognized tax benefits, if recognized, would have been recorded as a reduction to income tax expense	350	316	261
Recognition (reversal) of previously recorded interest expense resulting from third party settlement	11	9	9
Unrecognized tax benefits, accrued interest and penalties	54	$ 51	$ 42
Federal
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items]
Tax credit carryforwards	4
Foreign
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items]
Operating Loss Carryforwards, Valuation Allowance	30
Tax credit carryforwards	8
State and Local Jurisdiction
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items]
Operating Loss Carryforwards, Valuation Allowance	3
Tax credit carryforwards	413
Tax Credit Carryforward, Valuation Allowance	111
VMware
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items]
Investments and Cash	7,500
VMware | International Entities
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items]
Investments and Cash	5,800
EMC | International Entities
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items]
Investments and Cash	$ 6,100