Securities (including those issuable pursuant to contingent stock agreements) that could potentially dilute basic earnings per share (EPS) or earnings per unit (EPU) in the future that were not included in the computation of diluted EPS or EPU because to do so would increase EPS or EPU amounts or decrease loss per share or unit amounts for the period presented.

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 260
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (c)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6371337&loc=d3e3550-109257

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_AntidilutiveSecuritiesExcludedFromComputationOfEarningsPerShareAmount
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_AntidilutiveSecuritiesExcludedFromComputationOfEarningsPerShareLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Contractual interest rate for funds borrowed, under the debt agreement.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22(a)(1))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=cien_NewNotesThreePointSevenFivePercentConvertibleSeniorNotesDue2018Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=cien_ThreePointSevenFivePercentConvertibleSeniorNotesDue2018Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=cien_FourPercentConvertibleSeniorNotesDue2020Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_AntidilutiveSecuritiesExcludedFromComputationOfEarningsPerShareByAntidilutiveSecuritiesAxis=cien_SharesUnderlyingStockOptionsRestrictedStockUnitsAndWarrantsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_AntidilutiveSecuritiesExcludedFromComputationOfEarningsPerShareByAntidilutiveSecuritiesAxis=us-gaap_ConvertibleDebtSecuritiesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Earnings (Loss) Per Share Calculation - Weighted Average Shares Excluded from Calculation of Denominator for Basic and Diluted EPS (Details) - shares shares in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2019	Oct. 31, 2018	Oct. 31, 2017
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Total excluded due to anti-dilutive effect (in shares)	234	16,021	958
3.75% Convertible Senior Notes due October 15, 2018 (New)
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Interest rate on convertible notes	3.75%
3.75% Convertible Senior Notes due October 15, 2018 (Original)
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Interest rate on convertible notes	3.75%	3.75%
4.0% Convertible Senior Notes due December 15, 2020
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Interest rate on convertible notes	4.00%
Shares underlying stock options and restricted stock units
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Total excluded due to anti-dilutive effect (in shares)	234	2,235	958
Convertible Senior Notes \| 3.75% Convertible Senior Notes due October 15, 2018 (New)
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Total excluded due to anti-dilutive effect (in shares)	0	1,780	0
Convertible Senior Notes \| 3.75% Convertible Senior Notes due October 15, 2018 (Original)
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Total excluded due to anti-dilutive effect (in shares)	0	2,883	0
Convertible Senior Notes \| 4.0% Convertible Senior Notes due December 15, 2020
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Total excluded due to anti-dilutive effect (in shares)	0	9,123	0