Subsequent Events	12 Months Ended
Oct. 31, 2012
Subsequent Events [Abstract]
SUBSEQUENT EVENTS	SUBSEQUENT EVENTS On December 19, 2012, Ciena entered into separate, privately negotiated exchange agreements under which it will retire $187.5 million in aggregate principal amount of its outstanding 4.0% Convertible Senior Notes due 2015 (the “2015 Notes”) in exchange for its issuance of a new series of 4.0% Convertible Senior Notes due 2020 (the “2020 Notes”) in an aggregate original principal amount of $187.5 million (collectively, the “Exchange Transactions”). Following the Exchange Transactions, there will be a total of $187.5 million in aggregate principal amount of 2015 Notes outstanding, with terms unchanged by the Exchange Transactions, and $187.5 million in aggregate principal amount of 2020 Notes outstanding. The 2015 Notes and the 2020 Notes will be the Company's senior unsecured obligations and will rank equally with all of the Company's other existing and future senior unsecured debt. The 2020 Notes will be issued pursuant to an indenture between the Company and Bank of New York Mellon to be entered into in connection with the closing of the Exchange Transactions. The 2020 Notes will pay interest semi-annually at a rate of 4.0% per year in respect of each $1,000 original principal amount of 2020 Notes. The 2020 Notes will mature on December 15, 2020. The principal amount of the 2020 Notes will also accrete at a rate of 1.85% per year commencing December 27, 2012, compounding on a semi-annual basis. The accreted portion of the principal payable at maturity does not bear interest and is not convertible into shares of the Company's common stock. The 2020 Notes may be converted prior to maturity (unless earlier repurchased), at the option of the holder, into shares of the Company's common stock at an initial conversion rate of 49.0557 shares of Ciena common stock per $1,000 in original principal amount, which is equal to an initial conversion price of $20.385 per share. In addition, upon satisfaction of certain conditions, the Company may elect to convert the 2020 Notes in whole or in part, prior to maturity. An aggregate of 9,197,944 shares of the Company's common stock issuable upon conversion of the 2020 Notes have been reserved for issuance. If the Company elects to convert the 2020 Notes on or before maturity, holders will also receive a make-whole premium payable in the Company's common stock, or its cash equivalent, at the election of the Company. Upon certain fundamental changes, holders of the 2020 Notes have the option to require the Company to purchase the 2020 Notes at a price equal to the accreted principal amount of the 2020 Notes delivered for repurchase plus any accrued and unpaid interest on the original principal amount of such 2020 Notes. Upon a holder's election to convert the 2020 Notes in connection with certain fundamental changes, such holder will receive a make-whole premium payable in the Company's common stock, or its cash equivalent, at the election of the Company. Ciena expects the Exchange Transactions to close on December 27, 2012.

SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

On December 19, 2012, Ciena entered into separate, privately negotiated exchange agreements under which it will retire $187.5 million in aggregate principal amount of its outstanding 4.0% Convertible Senior Notes due 2015 (the “2015 Notes”) in exchange for its issuance of a new series of 4.0% Convertible Senior Notes due 2020 (the “2020 Notes”) in an aggregate original principal amount of $187.5 million (collectively, the “Exchange Transactions”). Following the Exchange Transactions, there will be a total of $187.5 million in aggregate principal amount of 2015 Notes outstanding, with terms unchanged by the Exchange Transactions, and $187.5 million in aggregate principal amount of 2020 Notes outstanding. The 2015 Notes and the 2020 Notes will be the Company's senior unsecured obligations and will rank equally with all of the Company's other existing and future senior unsecured debt. The 2020 Notes will be issued pursuant to an indenture between the Company and Bank of New York Mellon to be entered into in connection with the closing of the Exchange Transactions.

The 2020 Notes will pay interest semi-annually at a rate of 4.0% per year in respect of each $1,000 original principal amount of 2020 Notes. The 2020 Notes will mature on December 15, 2020. The principal amount of the 2020 Notes will also accrete at a rate of 1.85% per year commencing December 27, 2012, compounding on a semi-annual basis. The accreted portion of the principal payable at maturity does not bear interest and is not convertible into shares of the Company's common stock.

The 2020 Notes may be converted prior to maturity (unless earlier repurchased), at the option of the holder, into shares of the Company's common stock at an initial conversion rate of 49.0557 shares of Ciena common stock per $1,000 in original principal amount, which is equal to an initial conversion price of $20.385 per share. In addition, upon satisfaction of certain conditions, the Company may elect to convert the 2020 Notes in whole or in part, prior to maturity. An aggregate of 9,197,944 shares of the Company's common stock issuable upon conversion of the 2020 Notes have been reserved for issuance. If the Company elects to convert the 2020 Notes on or before maturity, holders will also receive a make-whole premium payable in the Company's common stock, or its cash equivalent, at the election of the Company.

Upon certain fundamental changes, holders of the 2020 Notes have the option to require the Company to purchase the 2020 Notes at a price equal to the accreted principal amount of the 2020 Notes delivered for repurchase plus any accrued and unpaid interest on the original principal amount of such 2020 Notes. Upon a holder's election to convert the 2020 Notes in connection with certain fundamental changes, such holder will receive a make-whole premium payable in the Company's common stock, or its cash equivalent, at the election of the Company.

Ciena expects the Exchange Transactions to close on December 27, 2012.