Shareholders' Equity - Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss, Net of Tax (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	$ (579)	$ (366)	$ (366)
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications	15	(72)
Net losses (gains) reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income	6	(19)
Net current period other comprehensive income (loss)	21	(91)
Ending balance	(558)	(457)	(579)	$ (366)
Taxes (benefits)	89	82
Foreign Currency Translation Adjustments
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	(356)	(187)	(187)
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications	3	(104)
Net losses (gains) reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income	0	0
Net current period other comprehensive income (loss)	3	(104)
Ending balance	(353)	(291)	(356)	(187)
Unrealized Net Gains on Investments
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	(10)	49	49
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications	20	19
Net losses (gains) reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income	2	(8)
Net current period other comprehensive income (loss)	22	11
Ending balance	12	60	(10)	49
Taxes (benefits)	7	38	(5)	31
Unrealized Net Losses on Derivatives
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	(89)	(99)	(99)
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications	(4)	14
Net losses (gains) reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income	4	(11)
Net current period other comprehensive income (loss)	0	3
Ending balance	(89)	(96)	(89)	(99)
Taxes (benefits)	(55)	(61)	(56)	(64)
Recognition of Actuarial Net Loss from Pension and Other Postretirement Plans
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	(125)	(126)	(126)
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications	0	0
Net losses (gains) reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income	0	0
Net current period other comprehensive income (loss)	0	0
Ending balance	(125)	(126)	(125)	(126)
Taxes (benefits)	(71)	(70)	(71)	(70)
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Attributable to the Non-controlling Interest in VMware, Inc.
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	1	(3)	(3)
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications	(4)	(1)
Net losses (gains) reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income	0	0
Net current period other comprehensive income (loss)	(4)	(1)
Ending balance	$ (3)	$ (4)	$ 1	$ (3)