Document and Entity Information - shares	3 Months Ended
	Jan. 31, 2017	Mar. 03, 2017
Document and Entity Information [Abstract]
Entity Registrant Name	CIENA CORP
Entity Central Index Key	0000936395
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--10-31
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Document Type	10-Q
Document Period End Date	Jan. 31, 2017
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2017
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q1
Amendment Flag	false
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		141,317,330