Additional performance-based awards to be earned, upon certain levels of achievement.

No definition available.

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- Definition

Employee service share based compensation tax benefit realized from other than stock option.

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No definition available.

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- Definition

Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP), Purchase Period

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

Number of employee stock purchase plans.

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No definition available.

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- Definition

Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Award Conversion Ratio

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

Weighted Average Estimated Fair Value Of Purchase Rights Under ESPP.

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

Aggregate dividends declared during the period for each share of common stock outstanding.

+ References

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- Definition

Amount of paid and unpaid common stock dividends declared with the form of settlement in cash.

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- Definition

Unrecognized cost of unvested share-based compensation awards.

+ 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 (i)

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- Definition

Weighted average period over which unrecognized compensation is expected to be recognized for equity-based compensation plans, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

+ References

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- 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)

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- Definition

Period from grant date that an equity-based award expires, 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

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-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (a)(2)

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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

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 718

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

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- Definition

Gross number of share options (or share units) granted during the period.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

Purchase price of common stock expressed as a percentage of its fair value.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

Number of shares issued during the period as a result of an employee stock purchase plan.

+ References

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

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 04

-Article 3

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

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-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 29, 30

-Article 5

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- Definition

Amount of a stock repurchase plan authorized by an entity's Board of Directors.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

Period which shares may be purchased under a stock repurchase plan authorized by an entity's Board of Directors, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

Amount remaining of a stock repurchase plan authorized by an entity's Board of Directors.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

Number of shares that have been repurchased during the period and are being held in treasury.

+ References

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Stockholders' Equity, Comprehensive Income and Share-Based Compensation (Narrative) (Details) (USD $) Share data in Millions, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	0 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Mar. 05, 2012	Oct. 26, 2014 Plan	Oct. 27, 2013	Oct. 28, 2012
Stock Repurchase Program
Authorized amount	$ 3,000,000,000
Period in force	3 years
Remaining authorized repurchase amount		1,600,000,000
Shares of common stock repurchased (in shares)		0us-gaap_TreasuryStockSharesAcquired	18us-gaap_TreasuryStockSharesAcquired	126us-gaap_TreasuryStockSharesAcquired
Dividends
Dividend declared, amount		487,000,000us-gaap_DividendsCommonStockCash	469,000,000us-gaap_DividendsCommonStockCash	438,000,000us-gaap_DividendsCommonStockCash
Share-based Compensation
Number of employee stock purchase plans		2amat_EmployeeStockPurchasePlansNumbers
Stock Options
Options granted		0	1	5
Restricted Stock Units, Restricted Stock, Performance Shares and Performance Units
Additional performance-based awards to be earned upon certain levels of achievement		1
First Quarter Dividend [Member]
Dividends
Cash dividend declared		$ 0.10	$ 0.09	$ 0.08
Second Quarter Dividend [Member]
Dividends
Cash dividend declared		$ 0.10	$ 0.10	$ 0.09
Third Quarter Dividend [Member]
Dividends
Cash dividend declared		$ 0.10	$ 0.10	$ 0.09
Fourth Quarter Dividend [Member]
Dividends
Cash dividend declared		$ 0.10	$ 0.10	$ 0.09
Employee Stock Purchase Plan [Member]
Share-based Compensation
Number of shares available for grant		34
Employee Stock Purchase Plans
Purchase price of common stock, percent		85.00%
Purchase period		6 months
Weighted average estimated fair value of purchase rights under ESPP		$ 4.56	$ 3.08	$ 2.73
Number of shares issued under the ESPP		6	7	7
Employee Stock [Member]
Share-based Compensation
Total unrecognized compensation expense		241,000,000
Weighted average period for unrecognized compensation expense to be recognized		2 years 6 months
Number of shares available for grant		176
Stock Options [Member]
Stock Options
Stock options scheduled to expire		7 years
Options granted		0
Stock Options [Member] \| Minimum [Member]
Stock Options
Stock options scheduled to be vested		3 years
Stock Options [Member] \| Maximum [Member]
Stock Options
Stock options scheduled to be vested		4 years
Restricted Stock Awards [Member]
Restricted Stock Units, Restricted Stock, Performance Shares and Performance Units
Tax benefit realized		$ 61,000,000	$ 42,000,000	$ 27,000,000
Restricted Stock [Member]
Restricted Stock Units, Restricted Stock, Performance Shares and Performance Units
Award conversion ratio to common stock		1
Performance Shares/Performance Units [Member]
Restricted Stock Units, Restricted Stock, Performance Shares and Performance Units
Award conversion ratio to common stock		1
Restricted Stock Units, Restricted Stock, Performance Shares and Performance Units [Member]
Stock Options
Stock options scheduled to be vested		4 years
Restricted Stock Units, Restricted Stock, Performance Shares and Performance Units [Member] \| Minimum [Member] \| Certain Executive Officers [Member]
Stock Options
Stock options scheduled to be vested		3 years
Restricted Stock Units, Restricted Stock, Performance Shares and Performance Units [Member] \| Maximum [Member] \| Certain Executive Officers [Member]
Stock Options
Stock options scheduled to be vested		4 years