Additional shares authorized under the plan during the period

No definition available.

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- Definition

Defined contribution plan maximum matching contribution by company.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

Expiration Date For Stock Options And Stock Appreciation Rights Maximum Time From Grant Date

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

Expiration date for stock options and stock appreciation rights maximum time from grant date, for more than 10% owners.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

Minimum fair market value of the shares granted to principal shareholder

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Balance Type:	na
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- Definition

Minimum percentage holding requirement for principal shareholder

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

Number of purchase periods within one offering period.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

The period during which rights to purchase stock under the ESPP are outstanding.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Duration of Plan Purchase Period within Offering Period

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Reduction in number of shares available for issuance.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The maximum number of additional shares approved to be added to the original reserve under the plan, when shares issued under previous plans are forfeited

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	brcd_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The amount of the cost recognized during the period for defined contribution plans.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 715

-SubTopic 70

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6414718&loc=d3e28014-114942

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Maximum percentage of employee gross pay the employee may contribute to a defined contribution plan.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Data Type:	num:percentItemType
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Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Period which an employee's right to exercise an award is no longer contingent on satisfaction of either a service condition, market condition or a performance condition, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 718

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (a)(1)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901

+ Details

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Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Discount rate from fair value on offering date that participants pay for shares.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 718

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The highest percentage of annual salary that an employee is permitted to utilize with respect to the plan.

+ References

+ Details

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

- Definition

The highest quantity of shares an employee can purchase under the plan per period.

+ References

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
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- Definition

The maximum number of shares (or other type of equity) originally approved (usually by shareholders and board of directors), net of any subsequent amendments and adjustments, for awards under the equity-based compensation plan. As stock or unit options and equity instruments other than options are awarded to participants, the shares or units remain authorized and become reserved for issuance under outstanding awards (not necessarily vested).

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 718

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (a)(3)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
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- Definition

The difference between the maximum number of shares (or other type of equity) authorized for issuance under the plan (including the effects of amendments and adjustments), and the sum of: 1) the number of shares (or other type of equity) already issued upon exercise of options or other equity-based awards under the plan; and 2) shares (or other type of equity) reserved for issuance on granting of outstanding awards, net of cancellations and forfeitures, if applicable.

+ References

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Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
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- Details

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- Details

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- Details

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- Details

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- Details

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Employee Compensation Plans Employee Compensation Plans (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Nov. 01, 2014	Apr. 28, 2012	Oct. 26, 2013	Oct. 27, 2012
Equity Compensation Plans
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award
Shares authorized for issuance under plan	55,200,000		90,600,000
Shares available for issuance under plan	30,000,000		56,800,000
Reduction In Number Of Shares Available For Issuance	1.56
Minimum Percentage Holding Requirement For Principal Shareholder	10.00%
Minimum Fair Market Value Of The Shares Granted To Principal Shareholder	110.00%
Expiration Date For Stock Options And Stock Appreciation Rights Maximum Time From Grant Date - 10% owners	5 years
Expiration Date For Stock Options And Stock Appreciation Rights Maximum Time From Grant Date	7 years
Equity Compensation Plans \| Minimum
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award
Award vesting period	3 years
Equity Compensation Plans \| Maximum
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award
Award vesting period	4 years
2013 Inducement Award Plan
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award
Shares authorized for issuance under plan	2,400,000
2009 Stock Plan
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award
Additional shares authorized under plan		35,000,000
Shares authorized for issuance under plan	83,000,000
Maximum number of shares to be added to the plan	40,300,000
2009 Director Plan
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award
Shares authorized for issuance under plan	2,000,000
Maximum number of shares to be added to the plan	900,000
2009 Employee Stock Purchase Plan
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award
Additional shares authorized under plan		30,000,000
Shares authorized for issuance under plan	65,000,000
Shares available for issuance under plan	17,100,000
Maximum payroll deductions	15.00%
Discount from Market Price At Offering Date	85.00%
Maximum number of shares to be purchased per employee	3,750
Plan Offering Period	24 months
Plan Purchase Period	6 months
Number of purchase periods	4
Mcdata Equity Plans
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award
Shares authorized for issuance under plan	100,000
Employee 401 K Plan
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award
Employee contribution maximum rate	60.00%
Maximum company matching contribution per employee	3,000
Company's matching contributions to the 401(k) Plan	8,200,000		$ 9,200,000	$ 9,100,000