<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2007-05-05</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001054374</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>BROADCOM CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>BRCM</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001057449</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>MCGREGOR SCOTT A</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>5300 CALIFORNIA AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>IRVINE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>92617</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>President &amp; CEO</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Class A common stock</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2007-05-05</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>115000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>424780</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Class A common stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2007-05-05</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>F</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>15010</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>33.14</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>409770</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The securities awarded on 05/05/2007 are in the form of restricted stock units (&quot;RSUs&quot;) that will entitle the Reporting Person to receive one share of Class A common stock per restricted stock unit. The RSUs units will vest, and the underlying shares will be concurrently issued, in a series of sixteen quarterly installments upon the Reporting Person's completion of each three month period of service over the period measured from from 05/05/2007 through 05/05/2011.  The RSUs will vest on an accelerated basis upon the Reporting Person's termination of employment with the Issuer under certain prescribed circumstances.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The securities were awarded in an exempt transaction pursuant to Rule 16b-3(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">The shares were withheld by the Issuer in satisfaction of the withholding taxes incurred in connection with the vesting of restricted stock units previously awarded to the Reporting Person. The withholding of the shares is an exempt disposition pursuant to Rule 16b-3(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">Includes (i) 144,770 shares that are held as Class A common stock and (ii) 265,000 shares in the form of restricted stock units that will entitle the Reporting Person to receive one share of Class A common stock per restricted stock unit.   785 of the 144,770 shares were acquired by the Reporting Person on 04/30/2007 through the Issuer's Employee Stock Purchase Plan in an exempt transaction pursuant to Rule 16b-3(c) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Scott A. McGregor</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2007-05-07</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
