Restructuring and Acquisition-Related Charges - Activity For Restructuring Program (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2015
EMC Information Infrastructure Plus Pivotal
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance			$ 342
Restructuring Reserve, Accrual Adjustment	$ (1)		(6)
Charges/ Adjustments to the Provision		$ 23	(6)	$ 133
Restructuring Reserve Settled During Period			174
Ending Balance	162		162
EMC Information Infrastructure Plus Pivotal | Workforce reductions
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	213		322
Charges/ Adjustments to the Provision	(6)		(16)
Restructuring Reserve Settled During Period	(67)		(166)
Ending Balance	140		140
EMC Information Infrastructure Plus Pivotal | Consolidation of excess facilities and other contractual obligations
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	22		20
Charges/ Adjustments to the Provision	5		10
Restructuring Reserve Settled During Period	(5)		(8)
Ending Balance	22		22
VMware
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	30	16	3	8
Restructuring Reserve, Accrual Adjustment		2
Charges/ Adjustments to the Provision	(1)	(2)	52	21
Restructuring Reserve Settled During Period	(24)	(12)	(50)	(27)
Ending Balance	5	2	5	2
VMware | Workforce reductions
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	27	16	3	8
Charges/ Adjustments to the Provision	(1)	(2)	49	21
Restructuring Reserve Settled During Period	(24)	(12)	(50)	(27)
Ending Balance	2	2	2	2
VMware | Consolidation of excess facilities and other contractual obligations
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	3	0	0	0
Charges/ Adjustments to the Provision	0	0	3	0
Restructuring Reserve Settled During Period	0	0	0	0
Ending Balance	3	0	3	0
Restructuring 2015 Programs | EMC Information Infrastructure Plus Pivotal
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance		102		0
Charges/ Adjustments to the Provision		27		139
Restructuring Reserve Settled During Period		(28)		(38)
Ending Balance		101		101
Restructuring 2015 Programs | EMC Information Infrastructure Plus Pivotal | Workforce reductions
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance		96		0
Charges/ Adjustments to the Provision		17		123
Restructuring Reserve Settled During Period		(24)		(34)
Ending Balance		89		89
Restructuring 2015 Programs | EMC Information Infrastructure Plus Pivotal | Consolidation of excess facilities and other contractual obligations
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance		6		0
Charges/ Adjustments to the Provision		10		16
Restructuring Reserve Settled During Period		(4)		(4)
Ending Balance		12		12
Restructuring Other Programs | EMC Information Infrastructure Plus Pivotal
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	235	75		121
Restructuring Reserve, Accrual Adjustment		(4)		(6)
Charges/ Adjustments to the Provision	(1)
Restructuring Reserve Settled During Period	72	(15)		(59)
Ending Balance	$ 162	56	$ 162	56
Restructuring Other Programs | EMC Information Infrastructure Plus Pivotal | Workforce reductions
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance		61		102
Restructuring Reserve, Accrual Adjustment		(4)		(6)
Restructuring Reserve Settled During Period		(14)		(53)
Ending Balance		43		43
Restructuring Other Programs | EMC Information Infrastructure Plus Pivotal | Consolidation of excess facilities and other contractual obligations
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance		14		19
Charges/ Adjustments to the Provision		0		0
Restructuring Reserve Settled During Period		(1)		(6)
Ending Balance		$ 13		$ 13