XML 28 R73.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v2.4.1.9
Fair Value (Details) (USD $)
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Jan. 03, 2015
Dec. 28, 2013
Dec. 29, 2012
Short-term investments:      
Available-for-sale securities $ 90,445us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities $ 96,788us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities  
Trading securities held in Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation Plan, or NQDC 27,034us-gaap_DeferredCompensationPlanAssets 23,960us-gaap_DeferredCompensationPlanAssets  
2015 Notes Hedges 523,930us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeAsset 306,817us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeAsset  
Foreign currency exchange contracts   262us-gaap_ForeignCurrencyContractAssetFairValueDisclosure  
Total Assets 1,369,905us-gaap_AssetsFairValueDisclosure 775,999us-gaap_AssetsFairValueDisclosure  
Liabilities      
Acquisition-related contingent consideration   4,091us-gaap_BusinessCombinationContingentConsiderationLiability  
2015 Notes Embedded Conversion Derivative 523,930us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeLiability 306,817us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeLiability  
Foreign currency exchange contracts 3,163us-gaap_ForeignCurrencyContractsLiabilityFairValueDisclosure    
Total Liabilities 527,093us-gaap_LiabilitiesFairValueDisclosure 310,908us-gaap_LiabilitiesFairValueDisclosure  
Money market funds [Member]      
Assets      
Cash equivalents 728,496us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsFairValueDisclosure
/ us-gaap_FairValueByAssetClassAxis
= us-gaap_MoneyMarketFundsMember
345,872us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsFairValueDisclosure
/ us-gaap_FairValueByAssetClassAxis
= us-gaap_MoneyMarketFundsMember
 
Corporate debt securities [Member]      
Short-term investments:      
Available-for-sale securities 34,894us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities
/ us-gaap_FairValueByAssetClassAxis
= us-gaap_CorporateDebtSecuritiesMember
37,441us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities
/ us-gaap_FairValueByAssetClassAxis
= us-gaap_CorporateDebtSecuritiesMember
 
Bank certificates of deposit [Member]      
Assets      
Cash equivalents   2,300us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsFairValueDisclosure
/ us-gaap_FairValueByAssetClassAxis
= us-gaap_CertificatesOfDepositMember
 
Short-term investments:      
Available-for-sale securities 21,910us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities
/ us-gaap_FairValueByAssetClassAxis
= us-gaap_CertificatesOfDepositMember
20,308us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities
/ us-gaap_FairValueByAssetClassAxis
= us-gaap_CertificatesOfDepositMember
 
United States Treasury securities [Member]      
Short-term investments:      
Available-for-sale securities 19,374us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities
/ us-gaap_FairValueByAssetClassAxis
= us-gaap_USTreasurySecuritiesMember
24,246us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities
/ us-gaap_FairValueByAssetClassAxis
= us-gaap_USTreasurySecuritiesMember
 
United States government agency securities [Member]      
Short-term investments:      
Available-for-sale securities 9,208us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities
/ us-gaap_FairValueByAssetClassAxis
= us-gaap_USGovernmentAgenciesDebtSecuritiesMember
10,223us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities
/ us-gaap_FairValueByAssetClassAxis
= us-gaap_USGovernmentAgenciesDebtSecuritiesMember
 
Commercial paper [Member]      
Short-term investments:      
Available-for-sale securities 3,186us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities
/ us-gaap_FairValueByAssetClassAxis
= us-gaap_CommercialPaperMember
2,493us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities
/ us-gaap_FairValueByAssetClassAxis
= us-gaap_CommercialPaperMember
 
Marketable equity securities [Member]      
Short-term investments:      
Available-for-sale securities 1,873us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities
/ us-gaap_FairValueByAssetClassAxis
= cdns_MarketableEquitySecuritiesMember
2,077us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities
/ us-gaap_FairValueByAssetClassAxis
= cdns_MarketableEquitySecuritiesMember
 
Fair Value Measurements, Level 1 [Member]      
Short-term investments:      
Trading securities held in Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation Plan, or NQDC 27,034us-gaap_DeferredCompensationPlanAssets
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel1Member
23,960us-gaap_DeferredCompensationPlanAssets
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel1Member
 
2015 Notes Hedges 0us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeAsset
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel1Member
0us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeAsset
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel1Member
 
Foreign currency exchange contracts   0us-gaap_ForeignCurrencyContractAssetFairValueDisclosure
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel1Member
 
Total Assets 785,985us-gaap_AssetsFairValueDisclosure
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel1Member
406,378us-gaap_AssetsFairValueDisclosure
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel1Member
 
Liabilities      
Acquisition-related contingent consideration   0us-gaap_BusinessCombinationContingentConsiderationLiability
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel1Member
 
2015 Notes Embedded Conversion Derivative 0us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeLiability
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel1Member
0us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeLiability
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel1Member
 
Foreign currency exchange contracts 0us-gaap_ForeignCurrencyContractsLiabilityFairValueDisclosure
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel1Member
   
Total Liabilities 0us-gaap_LiabilitiesFairValueDisclosure
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel1Member
0us-gaap_LiabilitiesFairValueDisclosure
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel1Member
 
Fair Value Measurements, Level 1 [Member] | Money market funds [Member]      
Assets      
Cash equivalents 728,496us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsFairValueDisclosure
/ us-gaap_FairValueByAssetClassAxis
= us-gaap_MoneyMarketFundsMember
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel1Member
345,872us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsFairValueDisclosure
/ us-gaap_FairValueByAssetClassAxis
= us-gaap_MoneyMarketFundsMember
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel1Member
 
Fair Value Measurements, Level 1 [Member] | Corporate debt securities [Member]      
Short-term investments:      
Available-for-sale securities 0us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities
/ us-gaap_FairValueByAssetClassAxis
= us-gaap_CorporateDebtSecuritiesMember
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel1Member
0us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities
/ us-gaap_FairValueByAssetClassAxis
= us-gaap_CorporateDebtSecuritiesMember
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel1Member
 
Fair Value Measurements, Level 1 [Member] | Bank certificates of deposit [Member]      
Assets      
Cash equivalents   0us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsFairValueDisclosure
/ us-gaap_FairValueByAssetClassAxis
= us-gaap_CertificatesOfDepositMember
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel1Member
 
Short-term investments:      
Available-for-sale securities 0us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities
/ us-gaap_FairValueByAssetClassAxis
= us-gaap_CertificatesOfDepositMember
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel1Member
0us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities
/ us-gaap_FairValueByAssetClassAxis
= us-gaap_CertificatesOfDepositMember
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel1Member
 
Fair Value Measurements, Level 1 [Member] | United States Treasury securities [Member]      
Short-term investments:      
Available-for-sale securities 19,374us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities
/ us-gaap_FairValueByAssetClassAxis
= us-gaap_USTreasurySecuritiesMember
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel1Member
24,246us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities
/ us-gaap_FairValueByAssetClassAxis
= us-gaap_USTreasurySecuritiesMember
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel1Member
 
Fair Value Measurements, Level 1 [Member] | United States government agency securities [Member]      
Short-term investments:      
Available-for-sale securities 9,208us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities
/ us-gaap_FairValueByAssetClassAxis
= us-gaap_USGovernmentAgenciesDebtSecuritiesMember
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel1Member
10,223us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities
/ us-gaap_FairValueByAssetClassAxis
= us-gaap_USGovernmentAgenciesDebtSecuritiesMember
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel1Member
 
Fair Value Measurements, Level 1 [Member] | Commercial paper [Member]      
Short-term investments:      
Available-for-sale securities 0us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities
/ us-gaap_FairValueByAssetClassAxis
= us-gaap_CommercialPaperMember
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel1Member
0us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities
/ us-gaap_FairValueByAssetClassAxis
= us-gaap_CommercialPaperMember
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel1Member
 
Fair Value Measurements, Level 1 [Member] | Marketable equity securities [Member]      
Short-term investments:      
Available-for-sale securities 1,873us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities
/ us-gaap_FairValueByAssetClassAxis
= cdns_MarketableEquitySecuritiesMember
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel1Member
2,077us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities
/ us-gaap_FairValueByAssetClassAxis
= cdns_MarketableEquitySecuritiesMember
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel1Member
 
Fair Value Measurements, Level 2 [Member]      
Short-term investments:      
Trading securities held in Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation Plan, or NQDC 0us-gaap_DeferredCompensationPlanAssets
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel2Member
0us-gaap_DeferredCompensationPlanAssets
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel2Member
 
2015 Notes Hedges 523,930us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeAsset
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel2Member
306,817us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeAsset
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel2Member
 
Foreign currency exchange contracts   262us-gaap_ForeignCurrencyContractAssetFairValueDisclosure
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel2Member
 
Total Assets 583,920us-gaap_AssetsFairValueDisclosure
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel2Member
369,621us-gaap_AssetsFairValueDisclosure
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel2Member
 
Liabilities      
Acquisition-related contingent consideration   0us-gaap_BusinessCombinationContingentConsiderationLiability
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel2Member
 
2015 Notes Embedded Conversion Derivative 523,930us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeLiability
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel2Member
306,817us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeLiability
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel2Member
 
Foreign currency exchange contracts 3,163us-gaap_ForeignCurrencyContractsLiabilityFairValueDisclosure
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel2Member
   
Total Liabilities 527,093us-gaap_LiabilitiesFairValueDisclosure
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel2Member
306,817us-gaap_LiabilitiesFairValueDisclosure
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel2Member
 
Fair Value Measurements, Level 2 [Member] | Money market funds [Member]      
Assets      
Cash equivalents 0us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsFairValueDisclosure
/ us-gaap_FairValueByAssetClassAxis
= us-gaap_MoneyMarketFundsMember
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel2Member
0us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsFairValueDisclosure
/ us-gaap_FairValueByAssetClassAxis
= us-gaap_MoneyMarketFundsMember
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel2Member
 
Fair Value Measurements, Level 2 [Member] | Corporate debt securities [Member]      
Short-term investments:      
Available-for-sale securities 34,894us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities
/ us-gaap_FairValueByAssetClassAxis
= us-gaap_CorporateDebtSecuritiesMember
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel2Member
37,441us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities
/ us-gaap_FairValueByAssetClassAxis
= us-gaap_CorporateDebtSecuritiesMember
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel2Member
 
Fair Value Measurements, Level 2 [Member] | Bank certificates of deposit [Member]      
Assets      
Cash equivalents   2,300us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsFairValueDisclosure
/ us-gaap_FairValueByAssetClassAxis
= us-gaap_CertificatesOfDepositMember
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel2Member
 
Short-term investments:      
Available-for-sale securities 21,910us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities
/ us-gaap_FairValueByAssetClassAxis
= us-gaap_CertificatesOfDepositMember
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel2Member
20,308us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities
/ us-gaap_FairValueByAssetClassAxis
= us-gaap_CertificatesOfDepositMember
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel2Member
 
Fair Value Measurements, Level 2 [Member] | United States Treasury securities [Member]      
Short-term investments:      
Available-for-sale securities 0us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities
/ us-gaap_FairValueByAssetClassAxis
= us-gaap_USTreasurySecuritiesMember
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel2Member
0us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities
/ us-gaap_FairValueByAssetClassAxis
= us-gaap_USTreasurySecuritiesMember
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel2Member
 
Fair Value Measurements, Level 2 [Member] | United States government agency securities [Member]      
Short-term investments:      
Available-for-sale securities 0us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities
/ us-gaap_FairValueByAssetClassAxis
= us-gaap_USGovernmentAgenciesDebtSecuritiesMember
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel2Member
0us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities
/ us-gaap_FairValueByAssetClassAxis
= us-gaap_USGovernmentAgenciesDebtSecuritiesMember
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel2Member
 
Fair Value Measurements, Level 2 [Member] | Commercial paper [Member]      
Short-term investments:      
Available-for-sale securities 3,186us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities
/ us-gaap_FairValueByAssetClassAxis
= us-gaap_CommercialPaperMember
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel2Member
2,493us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities
/ us-gaap_FairValueByAssetClassAxis
= us-gaap_CommercialPaperMember
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel2Member
 
Fair Value Measurements, Level 2 [Member] | Marketable equity securities [Member]      
Short-term investments:      
Available-for-sale securities 0us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities
/ us-gaap_FairValueByAssetClassAxis
= cdns_MarketableEquitySecuritiesMember
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel2Member
0us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities
/ us-gaap_FairValueByAssetClassAxis
= cdns_MarketableEquitySecuritiesMember
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel2Member
 
Fair Value Measurements, Level 3 [Member]      
Short-term investments:      
Trading securities held in Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation Plan, or NQDC 0us-gaap_DeferredCompensationPlanAssets
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel3Member
0us-gaap_DeferredCompensationPlanAssets
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel3Member
 
2015 Notes Hedges 0us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeAsset
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel3Member
0us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeAsset
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel3Member
 
Foreign currency exchange contracts   0us-gaap_ForeignCurrencyContractAssetFairValueDisclosure
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel3Member
 
Total Assets 0us-gaap_AssetsFairValueDisclosure
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel3Member
0us-gaap_AssetsFairValueDisclosure
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel3Member
 
Liabilities      
Acquisition-related contingent consideration 0us-gaap_BusinessCombinationContingentConsiderationLiability
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel3Member
4,091us-gaap_BusinessCombinationContingentConsiderationLiability
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel3Member
4,218us-gaap_BusinessCombinationContingentConsiderationLiability
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel3Member
2015 Notes Embedded Conversion Derivative 0us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeLiability
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel3Member
0us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeLiability
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel3Member
 
Foreign currency exchange contracts 0us-gaap_ForeignCurrencyContractsLiabilityFairValueDisclosure
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel3Member
   
Total Liabilities 0us-gaap_LiabilitiesFairValueDisclosure
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel3Member
4,091us-gaap_LiabilitiesFairValueDisclosure
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel3Member
 
Fair Value Measurements, Level 3 [Member] | Money market funds [Member]      
Assets      
Cash equivalents 0us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsFairValueDisclosure
/ us-gaap_FairValueByAssetClassAxis
= us-gaap_MoneyMarketFundsMember
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel3Member
0us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsFairValueDisclosure
/ us-gaap_FairValueByAssetClassAxis
= us-gaap_MoneyMarketFundsMember
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel3Member
 
Fair Value Measurements, Level 3 [Member] | Corporate debt securities [Member]      
Short-term investments:      
Available-for-sale securities 0us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities
/ us-gaap_FairValueByAssetClassAxis
= us-gaap_CorporateDebtSecuritiesMember
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel3Member
0us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities
/ us-gaap_FairValueByAssetClassAxis
= us-gaap_CorporateDebtSecuritiesMember
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel3Member
 
Fair Value Measurements, Level 3 [Member] | Bank certificates of deposit [Member]      
Assets      
Cash equivalents   0us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsFairValueDisclosure
/ us-gaap_FairValueByAssetClassAxis
= us-gaap_CertificatesOfDepositMember
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel3Member
 
Short-term investments:      
Available-for-sale securities 0us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities
/ us-gaap_FairValueByAssetClassAxis
= us-gaap_CertificatesOfDepositMember
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel3Member
0us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities
/ us-gaap_FairValueByAssetClassAxis
= us-gaap_CertificatesOfDepositMember
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel3Member
 
Fair Value Measurements, Level 3 [Member] | United States Treasury securities [Member]      
Short-term investments:      
Available-for-sale securities 0us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities
/ us-gaap_FairValueByAssetClassAxis
= us-gaap_USTreasurySecuritiesMember
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel3Member
0us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities
/ us-gaap_FairValueByAssetClassAxis
= us-gaap_USTreasurySecuritiesMember
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel3Member
 
Fair Value Measurements, Level 3 [Member] | United States government agency securities [Member]      
Short-term investments:      
Available-for-sale securities 0us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities
/ us-gaap_FairValueByAssetClassAxis
= us-gaap_USGovernmentAgenciesDebtSecuritiesMember
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel3Member
0us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities
/ us-gaap_FairValueByAssetClassAxis
= us-gaap_USGovernmentAgenciesDebtSecuritiesMember
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel3Member
 
Fair Value Measurements, Level 3 [Member] | Commercial paper [Member]      
Short-term investments:      
Available-for-sale securities 0us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities
/ us-gaap_FairValueByAssetClassAxis
= us-gaap_CommercialPaperMember
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel3Member
0us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities
/ us-gaap_FairValueByAssetClassAxis
= us-gaap_CommercialPaperMember
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel3Member
 
Fair Value Measurements, Level 3 [Member] | Marketable equity securities [Member]      
Short-term investments:      
Available-for-sale securities $ 0us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities
/ us-gaap_FairValueByAssetClassAxis
= cdns_MarketableEquitySecuritiesMember
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel3Member
$ 0us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities
/ us-gaap_FairValueByAssetClassAxis
= cdns_MarketableEquitySecuritiesMember
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel3Member