Defined benefit plan percentage of contributed by eligible participants.

No definition available.

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- Definition

Employee Stock Purchase Plan Payroll Deductions

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

Maximum Exercise Price as Percentage to Fair Value.

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

Range of payroll deduction.

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

Refunded Percentage Of Employee Contribution

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

Plan assets of a defined benefit plan, as a percentage of projected benefit obligation.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

Amount of discretionary contributions made by an employer to a defined contribution plan.

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

Percentage employer matches of the employee's percentage contribution matched.

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

Description of the terms and benefits provided by the employer's defined contribution plans. A defined contribution plan provides benefits in return for services rendered, provides an individual account for each participant, and has terms that specify how contributions to the individual's account are to be determined rather than the amount of benefits the individual is to receive. Under a defined contribution pension plan, the benefits a participant will receive depend solely on the amount contributed to the participant's account, the returns earned on investments of those contributions, and forfeitures of other participants' benefits that may be allocated to such participant's account. A description of the plan(s) including employee groups covered, the basis for determining contributions, and the nature and effects of significant matters affecting comparability of information for all periods presented.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 715

-SubTopic 70

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6414718&loc=d3e28014-114942

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Glossary Defined Contribution Postretirement Plan

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6510416

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- Definition

The maximum number of shares (or other type of equity) originally approved (usually by shareholders and board of directors), net of any subsequent amendments and adjustments, for awards under the equity-based compensation plan. As stock or unit options and equity instruments other than options are awarded to participants, the shares or units remain authorized and become reserved for issuance under outstanding awards (not necessarily vested).

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 718

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (a)(3)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901

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- Definition

Amount of accumulated difference between fair value of underlying shares on dates of exercise and exercise price on options exercised (or share units converted) into shares.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 718

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (d)(2)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901

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Employee Benefit Plans - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		6 Months Ended	9 Months Ended		6 Months Ended	9 Months Ended	6 Months Ended
	Sep. 27, 2013	Sep. 28, 2012	Sep. 27, 2013	Sep. 28, 2012	Jun. 30, 2013 Employee Stock Purchase Plan [Member]	Sep. 27, 2013 Employee Stock Purchase Plan [Member]	Aug. 14, 2013 Employee Stock Purchase Plan [Member]	Jun. 30, 2013 Minimum [Member] Employee Stock Purchase Plan [Member]	Sep. 27, 2013 Maximum [Member]	Jun. 30, 2013 Maximum [Member] Employee Stock Purchase Plan [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Intrinsic value of options exercised	$ 1,100,000	$ 100,000	$ 2,000,000	$ 600,000
Percentage of fair market value of Common Stock to purchase shares						85.00%
Range of payroll deductions					1% to 10%
Employee Stock Purchase Plan Payroll Deductions								1.00%		10.00%
Percentage of shares available to fund for ESPP						53.00%
Refunded percentage of employee contribution						47.00%
Increase in authorized shares for ESPP							1,000,000
Discretionary contributions of plan			25.00%
Percentage of contribution by eligible participants			4.00%
Maximum contribution per participant									$ 1,000
Defined contribution plan description			Harmonic has a retirement/savings plan which qualifies as a thrift plan under Section 401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code. This plan allows participants to contribute up to the applicable Internal Revenue Code limitations under the plan. Harmonic has made discretionary contributions to the plan of 25% of the first 4% contributed by eligible participants, up to a maximum contribution per participant of $1,000 per year. Harmonic’s contributions were suspended from 2009 through 2012, but have been renewed, on the same basis, for 2013.