Foreign Currency Forward Contracts (Details) (Foreign Exchange Forward [Member], Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member])	3 Months Ended
Apr. 30, 2013
Foreign Exchange Forward [Member] \| Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Forward contract term (in months)	3 months

Period the derivative contract is outstanding, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

No definition available.

Name:	cien_DerivativeTermOfContract
Namespace Prefix:	cien_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration