Restructuring and Acquisition-Related Charges - Activity For Restructuring Program (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015
EMC Information Infrastructure Plus Pivotal
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Restructuring Reserve, Accrual Adjustment	$ (5)
Charges/ Adjustments to the Provision		$ 111
EMC Information Infrastructure Plus Pivotal \| Workforce reductions
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	322
Charges/ Adjustments to the Provision	(10)
Restructuring Reserve Settled During Period	(99)
Ending Balance	213
EMC Information Infrastructure Plus Pivotal \| Consolidation of excess facilities and other contractual obligations
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	20
Charges/ Adjustments to the Provision	5
Restructuring Reserve Settled During Period	(3)
Ending Balance	22
VMware
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Charges/ Adjustments to the Provision	53	22
Restructuring 2015 Programs \| EMC Information Infrastructure Plus Pivotal
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance		0
Charges/ Adjustments to the Provision		113
Restructuring Reserve Settled During Period		(11)
Ending Balance		102
Restructuring 2015 Programs \| EMC Information Infrastructure Plus Pivotal \| Workforce reductions
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance		0
Charges/ Adjustments to the Provision		107
Restructuring Reserve Settled During Period		(11)
Ending Balance		96
Restructuring 2015 Programs \| EMC Information Infrastructure Plus Pivotal \| Consolidation of excess facilities and other contractual obligations
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance		0
Charges/ Adjustments to the Provision		6
Restructuring Reserve Settled During Period		0
Ending Balance		6
Restructuring Other Programs \| EMC Information Infrastructure Plus Pivotal
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	342	121
Restructuring Reserve, Accrual Adjustment		(2)
Charges/ Adjustments to the Provision	(5)
Restructuring Reserve Settled During Period	(102)	(44)
Ending Balance	235	75
Restructuring Other Programs \| EMC Information Infrastructure Plus Pivotal \| Workforce reductions
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance		102
Restructuring Reserve, Accrual Adjustment		(2)
Restructuring Reserve Settled During Period		(39)
Ending Balance		61
Restructuring Other Programs \| EMC Information Infrastructure Plus Pivotal \| Consolidation of excess facilities and other contractual obligations
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance		19
Charges/ Adjustments to the Provision		0
Restructuring Reserve Settled During Period		(5)
Ending Balance		14
Restructuring Other Programs \| VMware
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	3	8
Charges/ Adjustments to the Provision	53	22
Restructuring Reserve Settled During Period	(26)	(14)
Ending Balance	30	16
Restructuring Other Programs \| VMware \| Workforce reductions
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	3	8
Charges/ Adjustments to the Provision	50	22
Restructuring Reserve Settled During Period	(26)	(14)
Ending Balance	27	16
Restructuring Other Programs \| VMware \| Consolidation of excess facilities and other contractual obligations
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	0	0
Charges/ Adjustments to the Provision	3	0
Restructuring Reserve Settled During Period	0	0
Ending Balance	$ 3	$ 0

Restructuring reserves settled during period including cash and non-cash transactions

No definition available.

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- Definition

Amount of expenses associated with exit or disposal activities pursuant to an authorized plan. Excludes expenses related to a discontinued operation or an asset retirement obligation.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 28
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=56944662&loc=d3e3602-108585

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 420
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6394359&loc=d3e17939-110869

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 420
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SAB TOPIC 5.P.3)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27011515&loc=d3e140864-122747

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 420
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (SAB TOPIC 5.P.4(b))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27011515&loc=d3e140904-122747

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Staff Accounting Bulletin (SAB)
-Number Topic 5
-Section P
-Subsection 3, 4

+ Details

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- Definition

Carrying amount (including both current and noncurrent portions of the accrual) as of the balance sheet date pertaining to a specified type of cost associated with exit from or disposal of business activities or restructuring pursuant to a duly authorized plan.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 420
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (SAB TOPIC 5.P.4(b))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27011515&loc=d3e140904-122747

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Staff Accounting Bulletin (SAB)
-Number Topic 5
-Section P
-Subsection 3, 4

+ Details

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- Definition

Amount of (expense) reversal of expense related to a previously accrued restructuring cost liability. Excludes adjustments for costs incurred, costs settled, and foreign currency translation adjustments.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 420
-SubTopic 10
-Section 40
-Paragraph 1
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6394291&loc=d3e17658-110867

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 420
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (SAB TOPIC 5.P.4(b))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27011515&loc=d3e140904-122747

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 420
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6394359&loc=d3e17939-110869

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Staff Accounting Bulletin (SAB)
-Number Topic 5
-Section P
-Subsection 3, 4

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- Definition

A roll forward is a reconciliation of a concept from the beginning of a period to the end of a period.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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