Income Taxes - NOL Carryforwards and Federal Research and Development Tax Credits (Details) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($)
Federal
Net Operating Losses and Tax Credit Carryforwards
Net operating losses, amount	$ 254,208
Tax credits, amount	7,430
State
Net Operating Losses and Tax Credit Carryforwards
Net operating losses, amount	115,420
Tax credits, amount	9,121
Foreign Tax Authority [Member]
Net Operating Losses and Tax Credit Carryforwards
Net operating losses, amount	$ 383

[Line Items] for Operating Loss and Tax Credit Carryforwards [Table]

No definition available.

Name:	cdxs_OperatingLossAndTaxCreditCarryforwardsLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	cdxs_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of operating loss carryforward, before tax effects, available to reduce future taxable income under enacted tax laws.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 740
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=84230637&loc=d3e32559-109319

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_OperatingLossCarryforwards
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The amount of the tax credit carryforward, before tax effects, available to reduce future taxable income under enacted tax laws.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_TaxCreditCarryforwardAmount
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis=us-gaap_InternalRevenueServiceIRSMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis=us-gaap_StateAndLocalJurisdictionMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis=us-gaap_ForeignCountryMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: