Ciena Corporation and Significant Accounting Policies and Estimates (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended							12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2012 segments Y	Oct. 31, 2011	Oct. 31, 2010	Oct. 31, 2012 4.0% Convertible Senior Notes due March 15, 2015 [Member]	Aug. 13, 2012 4.0% Convertible Senior Notes due March 15, 2015 [Member]	Oct. 31, 2011 4.0% Convertible Senior Notes due March 15, 2015 [Member]	Oct. 31, 2010 4.0% Convertible Senior Notes due March 15, 2015 [Member]	Oct. 31, 2010 Accounting Standards Update 2009-13 [Member]	Oct. 31, 2012 Equipment, Furniture and Fixtures [Member] Y	Oct. 31, 2012 Software and Website Development [Member] Y	Oct. 31, 2012 Maximum [Member]	Oct. 31, 2012 Minimum [Member]	Oct. 31, 2011 Privately Held Technology Company [Member]
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Number of fiscal weeks in a year	P53W	P52W	P52W								P53W	P52W
Fiscal year	52 or 53 week
Gain on sale of cost method investment													$ 7.2
Number of operating segments	4
Estimated useful lives capitalized and amortized straight-line, minimum (in years)									2	2
Estimated useful lives capitalized and amortized straight-line, maximum (in years)									5	5
Expected economic lives of finite-lived intangible assets, maximum (in years)	7
Expected number of years Spares usage cost is expensed	4 years
Pro-forma revenue due to prospective adoption of new accounting pronouncement								$ 33.0
One-time employee termination benefits related to service period												60 days
Interest rate on convertible notes				4.00%	4.00%	4.00%	4.00%