Financial Assets that were Accounted for at Fair Value (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Jul. 28, 2012	Jan. 28, 2012
Assets
Total assets	$ 1,586,677	$ 1,768,352
Cash equivalents \| Money market funds
Assets
Cash equivalents	93,827	64,247
Cash equivalents \| Corporate debt securities
Assets
Cash equivalents	30,243	12,500
Cash equivalents \| Time Deposit
Assets
Cash equivalents	214,706	205,060
Short-term Investments \| Corporate debt securities
Assets
Investments	616,469	687,845
Short-term Investments \| U.S. Federal and State debt securities
Assets
Investments	609,580	771,715
Short-term Investments \| Foreign Government
Assets
Investments	2,036	2,036
Long-term investments \| Auction rate securities
Assets
Investments	18,103	23,215
Other non-current assets \| Severance Pay Fund
Assets
Other non-current asset	1,713	1,734
Accrued Liabilities \| Forward contracts
Liabilities
Forward contracts	1,772	1,520
Level 1
Assets
Total assets	703,407	835,962
Level 1 \| Cash equivalents \| Money market funds
Assets
Cash equivalents	93,827	64,247
Level 1 \| Short-term Investments \| U.S. Federal and State debt securities
Assets
Investments	609,580	771,715
Level 2
Assets
Total assets	865,167	909,175
Level 2 \| Cash equivalents \| Corporate debt securities
Assets
Cash equivalents	30,243	12,500
Level 2 \| Cash equivalents \| Time Deposit
Assets
Cash equivalents	214,706	205,060
Level 2 \| Short-term Investments \| Corporate debt securities
Assets
Investments	616,469	687,845
Level 2 \| Short-term Investments \| Foreign Government
Assets
Investments	2,036	2,036
Level 2 \| Other non-current assets \| Severance Pay Fund
Assets
Other non-current asset	1,713	1,734
Level 2 \| Accrued Liabilities \| Forward contracts
Liabilities
Forward contracts	1,772	1,520
Level 3
Assets
Total assets	18,103	23,215
Level 3 \| Long-term investments \| Auction rate securities
Assets
Investments	$ 18,103	$ 23,215

This element represents the portion of the balance sheet assertion valued at fair value by the entity whether such amount is presented as a separate caption or as a parenthetical disclosure. Additionally, this element may be used in connection with the fair value disclosures required in the footnote disclosures to the financial statements. The element may be used in both the balance sheet and disclosure in the same submission. This item includes currency on hand as well as demand deposits with banks or financial institutions. It also includes other kinds of accounts that have the general characteristics of demand deposits in that the Company may deposit additional funds at any time and also effectively may withdraw funds at any time without prior notice or penalty. Cash equivalents, excluding items classified as marketable securities, include short-term, highly liquid investments that are both readily convertible to known amounts of cash, and so near their maturity that they present minimal risk of changes in value because of changes in interest rates. Generally, only investments with original maturities of three months or less qualify under that definition. Original maturity means original maturity to the entity holding the investment. For example, both a three-month US Treasury bill and a three-year Treasury note purchased three months from maturity qualify as cash equivalents. However, a Treasury note purchased three years ago does not become a cash equivalent when its remaining maturity is three months.

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Derivative instrument obligations meeting the definition of a liability which the Company is a party to as of the balance sheet date.

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- Definition

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