| Component: (Network and Table) | |
|---|---|
| Network | 2402408 - Disclosure - Supplemental Financial Information (Details 6) (http://www.broadcom.com/role/SupplementalFinancialInformationDetails6) |
| Table | Schedule of Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Table] |
| Reporting Entity [Axis] | 0001054374 (http://www.sec.gov/CIK) |
| Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items] | Period [Axis] | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
2012-12-31 | 2011-12-31 | |||
| Finite-Lived Intangible Assets by Major Class [Axis] | Finite-Lived Intangible Assets by Major Class [Axis] | |||
| Cost of Goods, Product Line [Member] | Other Operating Expense [Member] | Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Major Class Name [Domain] | Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Major Class Name [Domain] | |
Amortization of Existing Purchased Intangible Assets | ||||
Purchased Intangible Asset Amortization, 2013 | 174,000,000 | 57,000,000 | 231,000,000 | |
Purchased Intangible Asset Amortization, 2014 | 221,000,000 | 64,000,000 | 285,000,000 | |
Purchased Intangible Asset Amortization, 2015 | 218,000,000 | 32,000,000 | 250,000,000 | |
Purchased Intangible Asset Amortization, 2016 | 200,000,000 | 9,000,000 | 209,000,000 | |
Purchased Intangible Asset Amortization, 2017 | 188,000,000 | 3,000,000 | 191,000,000 | |
Purchased Intangible Asset Amortization, Thereafter | 615,000,000 | 5,000,000 | 620,000,000 | |
Purchased intangible assets, Net | 1,616,000,000 | 170,000,000 | 1,786,000,000 | 400,000,000 |