Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)	6 Months Ended
Jun. 27, 2020
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]
Basis of presentation	The condensed consolidated financial statements included in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q have been prepared by Cadence Design Systems, Inc. (“Cadence”) without audit, pursuant to the rules and regulations of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles (“U.S. GAAP”) have been condensed or omitted pursuant to such rules and regulations.
Use of estimates	Use of Estimates Preparation of the condensed consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the condensed consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting period.
Recently adopted accounting standards	Recently Adopted Accounting Standards Credit Losses In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13, “Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments,” which required the establishment of an allowance for estimated credit losses on financial assets, including trade and other receivables, at each reporting date. Cadence adopted the new standard on December 29, 2019, the first day of fiscal 2020, and recorded a cumulative-effect adjustment to decrease retained earnings in the amount of $2.0 million for expected credit losses on financial assets at the adoption date. The adoption of this standard required Cadence to modify its existing process for establishing credit losses on trade receivables, including receivables derived from leasing arrangements for its emulation and prototyping hardware. Goodwill Impairment In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-04, “Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment,” that eliminates “Step 2” from the goodwill impairment test. Cadence adopted the new standard on December 29, 2019, the first day of fiscal 2020. The new standard did not have an impact on Cadence’s condensed consolidated financial statements and related disclosures. Fair Value Measurements In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-13, “Disclosure Framework — Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurement,” which modifies the disclosure requirements on fair value measurements. Cadence adopted the new standard on December 29, 2019, the first day of fiscal 2020. The new standard did not have a material impact on Cadence’s condensed consolidated financial statements and related disclosures. Implementation Costs Incurred in a Cloud Computing Arrangement In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-15, “Customer’s Accounting for Implementation Costs Incurred in a Cloud Computing Arrangement That Is a Service Contract,” which clarifies the accounting for implementation costs in cloud computing arrangements. The new standard aligns the treatment of implementation costs incurred by customers in cloud computing arrangements that are service contracts with the treatment of similar costs incurred to develop or obtain internal-use software. Under the new standard, implementation costs are deferred and presented in the same financial statement caption on the condensed consolidated balance sheet as a prepayment of related arrangement fees. The deferred costs are recognized over the term of the arrangement in the same financial statement caption in the condensed consolidated income statement as the related fees of the arrangement. Cadence adopted the new standard on December 29, 2019, the first day of fiscal 2020. The new standard did not have a material impact on Cadence’s condensed consolidated financial statements and related disclosures. New Accounting Standards Not Yet Adopted Accounting for Income Taxes In December 2019, the FASB issued ASU 2019-12, “Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes,” which simplifies the accounting for income taxes, eliminates certain exceptions within ASC 740, Income Taxes, and clarifies certain aspects of the current guidance to promote consistency among reporting entities. The new standard is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2021. Most amendments within the standard are required to be applied on a prospective basis, while certain amendments must be applied on a retrospective or modified retrospective basis. Cadence is currently evaluating the impacts of the provisions of this standard on its financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.
Fair value of financial instruments	Inputs to valuation techniques are observable or unobservable. Observable inputs reflect market data obtained from independent sources, while unobservable inputs reflect Cadence’s market assumptions. These two types of inputs have created the following fair value hierarchy: •Level 1 – Quoted prices for identical instruments in active markets; •Level 2 – Quoted prices for similar instruments in active markets, quoted prices for identical or similar instruments in markets that are not active, and model-derived valuations in which all significant inputs and significant value drivers are observable in active markets; and •Level 3 – Valuations derived from valuation techniques in which one or more significant inputs or significant value drivers are unobservable. This hierarchy requires Cadence to minimize the use of unobservable inputs and to use observable market data, if available, when determining fair value. Cadence recognizes transfers between levels of the hierarchy based on the fair values of the respective financial instruments at the end of the reporting period in which the transfer occurred. There were no transfers between levels of the fair value hierarchy during the six months ended June 27, 2020.
Contingencies	At least quarterly, Cadence reviews the status of each significant matter and assesses its potential financial exposure. If the potential loss from any claim or legal proceeding is considered probable and the amount or the range of loss can be estimated, Cadence accrues a liability for the estimated loss. Legal proceedings are subject to uncertainties, and the outcomes are difficult to predict. Because of such uncertainties, accruals are based on Cadence’s judgments using the best information available at the time. As additional information becomes available, Cadence reassesses the potential liability related to pending claims and litigation matters and may revise estimates.

Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

6 Months Ended

Jun. 27, 2020

Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]

The condensed consolidated financial statements included in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q have been prepared by Cadence Design Systems, Inc. (“Cadence”) without audit, pursuant to the rules and regulations of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles (“U.S. GAAP”) have been condensed or omitted pursuant to such rules and regulations.

Use of estimates

Use of Estimates

Preparation of the condensed consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the condensed consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting period.

Recently adopted accounting standards

Recently Adopted Accounting Standards

Credit Losses

In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13, “Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments,” which required the establishment of an allowance for estimated credit losses on financial assets, including trade and other receivables, at each reporting date. Cadence adopted the new standard on December 29, 2019, the first day of fiscal 2020, and recorded a cumulative-effect adjustment to decrease retained earnings in the amount of $2.0 million for expected credit losses on financial assets at the adoption date. The adoption of this standard required Cadence to modify its existing process for establishing credit losses on trade receivables, including receivables derived from leasing arrangements for its emulation and prototyping hardware.

Goodwill Impairment

In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-04, “Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment,” that eliminates “Step 2” from the goodwill impairment test. Cadence adopted the new standard on December 29, 2019, the first day of fiscal 2020. The new standard did not have an impact on Cadence’s condensed consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

Fair Value Measurements

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-13, “Disclosure Framework — Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurement,” which modifies the disclosure requirements on fair value measurements. Cadence adopted the new standard on December 29, 2019, the first day of fiscal 2020. The new standard did not have a material impact on Cadence’s condensed consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

Implementation Costs Incurred in a Cloud Computing Arrangement

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-15, “Customer’s Accounting for Implementation Costs Incurred in a Cloud Computing Arrangement That Is a Service Contract,” which clarifies the accounting for implementation costs in cloud computing arrangements. The new standard aligns the treatment of implementation costs incurred by customers in cloud computing arrangements that are service contracts with the treatment of similar costs incurred to develop or obtain internal-use software. Under the new standard, implementation costs are deferred and presented in the same financial statement caption on the condensed consolidated balance sheet as a prepayment of related arrangement fees. The deferred costs are recognized over the term of the arrangement in the same financial statement caption in the condensed consolidated income statement as the related fees of the arrangement. Cadence adopted the new standard on December 29, 2019, the first day of fiscal 2020. The new standard did not have a material impact on Cadence’s condensed consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

New Accounting Standards Not Yet Adopted

Accounting for Income Taxes

In December 2019, the FASB issued ASU 2019-12, “Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes,” which simplifies the accounting for income taxes, eliminates certain exceptions within ASC 740, Income Taxes, and clarifies certain aspects of the current guidance to promote consistency among reporting entities. The new standard is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2021. Most amendments within the standard are required to be applied on a prospective basis, while certain amendments must be applied on a retrospective or modified retrospective basis. Cadence is currently evaluating the impacts of the provisions of this standard on its financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

Fair value of financial instruments

Inputs to valuation techniques are observable or unobservable. Observable inputs reflect market data obtained from independent sources, while unobservable inputs reflect Cadence’s market assumptions. These two types of inputs have created the following fair value hierarchy:

•Level 1 – Quoted prices for identical instruments in active markets;

•Level 2 – Quoted prices for similar instruments in active markets, quoted prices for identical or similar instruments in markets that are not active, and model-derived valuations in which all significant inputs and significant value drivers are observable in active markets; and

•Level 3 – Valuations derived from valuation techniques in which one or more significant inputs or significant value drivers are unobservable.

This hierarchy requires Cadence to minimize the use of unobservable inputs and to use observable market data, if available, when determining fair value. Cadence recognizes transfers between levels of the hierarchy based on the fair values of the respective financial instruments at the end of the reporting period in which the transfer occurred. There were no transfers between levels of the fair value hierarchy during the six months ended June 27, 2020.

Contingencies

At least quarterly, Cadence reviews the status of each significant matter and assesses its potential financial exposure. If the potential loss from any claim or legal proceeding is considered probable and the amount or the range of loss can be estimated, Cadence accrues a liability for the estimated loss. Legal proceedings are subject to uncertainties, and the outcomes are difficult to predict. Because of such uncertainties, accruals are based on Cadence’s judgments using the best information available at the time. As additional information becomes available, Cadence reassesses the potential liability related to pending claims and litigation matters and may revise estimates.