Summary of Significant Accounting Policies	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2014
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies	Summary of Significant Accounting Policies Our Company Broadcom Corporation (including our subsidiaries, referred to collectively in this Report as “Broadcom,” “we,” “our” and “us”) is a global leader and innovator in semiconductor solutions for wired and wireless communications. Broadcom^® products seamlessly deliver voice, video, data and multimedia connectivity in the home, office and mobile environments. We provide the industry’s broadest portfolio of state-of-the-art system-on-a-chip solutions, or SoCs. Basis of Presentation The interim condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States, or GAAP, for interim financial information and with the instructions to Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, Form 10-Q and Article 10 of SEC Regulation S-X. They do not include all of the information and footnotes required by generally accepted accounting principles for complete financial statements. Therefore, these financial statements should be read in conjunction with our audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto for the year ended December 31, 2013, included in our 2013 Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on January 30, 2014, referred to as our 2013 Annual Report. The interim condensed consolidated financial statements included herein are unaudited; however, they contain all normal recurring accruals and adjustments that, in the opinion of management, are necessary to present fairly our results of operations and financial position for the interim periods. The results of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2014 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for future quarters or the full year. Additionally, certain amounts previously reported as licensing revenue have been reclassified to product revenue to conform to the current period presentation. Such reclassifications had an impact of $8 million in the three months ended March 31, 2013, but did not affect total net revenue, net income, shareholders' equity or cash flows. For a complete summary of our significant accounting policies, please refer to Note 1, “Summary of Significant Accounting Policies,” in Part IV, Item 15 of our 2013 Annual Report. There have been no material changes to our significant accounting policies during the three months ended March 31, 2014. Use of Estimates The preparation of financial statements in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles, or GAAP, requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the dates of the financial statements and the reported amounts of total net revenue and expenses in the reporting periods. We regularly evaluate estimates and assumptions related to revenue recognition, rebates, allowances for doubtful accounts, sales returns and allowances, warranty obligations, inventory valuation, stock-based compensation expense, goodwill and purchased intangible asset valuations, strategic investments, deferred income tax asset valuation allowances, uncertain tax positions, tax contingencies, self-insurance, restructuring costs or reversals, litigation and other loss contingencies. These estimates and assumptions are based on current facts, historical experience and various other factors that we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities and the recording of revenue, costs and expenses that are not readily apparent from other sources. The actual results we experience may differ materially and adversely from our estimates. To the extent there are material differences between the estimates and actual results, our future results of operations will be affected.

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Our Company

Broadcom Corporation (including our subsidiaries, referred to collectively in this Report as “Broadcom,” “we,” “our” and “us”) is a global leader and innovator in semiconductor solutions for wired and wireless communications. Broadcom^® products seamlessly deliver voice, video, data and multimedia connectivity in the home, office and mobile environments. We provide the industry’s broadest portfolio of state-of-the-art system-on-a-chip solutions, or SoCs.

Basis of Presentation

The interim condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States, or GAAP, for interim financial information and with the instructions to Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, Form 10-Q and Article 10 of SEC Regulation S-X. They do not include all of the information and footnotes required by generally accepted accounting principles for complete financial statements. Therefore, these financial statements should be read in conjunction with our audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto for the year ended December 31, 2013, included in our 2013 Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on January 30, 2014, referred to as our 2013 Annual Report.

The interim condensed consolidated financial statements included herein are unaudited; however, they contain all normal recurring accruals and adjustments that, in the opinion of management, are necessary to present fairly our results of operations and financial position for the interim periods. The results of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2014 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for future quarters or the full year. Additionally, certain amounts previously reported as licensing revenue have been reclassified to product revenue to conform to the current period presentation. Such reclassifications had an impact of $8 million in the three months ended March 31, 2013, but did not affect total net revenue, net income, shareholders' equity or cash flows.

For a complete summary of our significant accounting policies, please refer to Note 1, “Summary of Significant Accounting Policies,” in Part IV, Item 15 of our 2013 Annual Report. There have been no material changes to our significant accounting policies during the three months ended March 31, 2014.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles, or GAAP, requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the dates of the financial statements and the reported amounts of total net revenue and expenses in the reporting periods. We regularly evaluate estimates and assumptions related to revenue recognition, rebates, allowances for doubtful accounts, sales returns and allowances, warranty obligations, inventory valuation, stock-based compensation expense, goodwill and purchased intangible asset valuations, strategic investments, deferred income tax asset valuation allowances, uncertain tax positions, tax contingencies, self-insurance, restructuring costs or reversals, litigation and other loss contingencies. These estimates and assumptions are based on current facts, historical experience and various other factors that we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities and the recording of revenue, costs and expenses that are not readily apparent from other sources. The actual results we experience may differ materially and adversely from our estimates. To the extent there are material differences between the estimates and actual results, our future results of operations will be affected.