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Cash, Cash Equivalents and Investments (Summary of Cash, Cash Equivalents and Investments) (Details) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
Apr. 26, 2015
Oct. 26, 2014
Apr. 27, 2014
Oct. 27, 2013
Summary of Cash, Cash Equivalents and Investments        
Cash $ 496us-gaap_Cash $ 508us-gaap_Cash    
Cash equivalents:        
Money market funds 2,571us-gaap_MoneyMarketFundsAtCarryingValue 2,494us-gaap_MoneyMarketFundsAtCarryingValue    
Total Cash equivalents 2,571us-gaap_CashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue 2,494us-gaap_CashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue    
Total Cash and Cash equivalents 3,067us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue 3,002us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue 2,453us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue 1,711us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue
Short-term and long-term investments, Cost 1,071us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAmortizedCost 1,062us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAmortizedCost    
Short-term and long-term investments, Gross Unrealized Gains 30us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedGainBeforeTax 35us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedGainBeforeTax    
Short-term and long-term investments, Gross Unrealized Losses 2us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedLossBeforeTax 2us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedLossBeforeTax    
Short-term and long-term investments, Estimated Fair Value 1,099us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities 1,095us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities    
Equity investments in privately-held companies 66us-gaap_CostMethodInvestments 66us-gaap_CostMethodInvestments    
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Investments, Cost 4,138amat_CashCashEquivalentsAndInvestmentsCost 4,064amat_CashCashEquivalentsAndInvestmentsCost    
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Investments, Gross Unrealized Gains 30amat_CashCashEquivalentsAndInvestmentsAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedGainbeforeTax 35amat_CashCashEquivalentsAndInvestmentsAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedGainbeforeTax    
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Investments, Gross Unrealized Losses 2amat_CashCashEquivalentsAndInvestmentsAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedLossbeforeTax 2amat_CashCashEquivalentsAndInvestmentsAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedLossbeforeTax    
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Investments, Estimated Fair Value 4,166amat_CashCashEquivalentsAndInvestmentsEstimatedFairValue 4,097amat_CashCashEquivalentsAndInvestmentsEstimatedFairValue    
Total fixed income securities [Member]        
Cash equivalents:        
Short-term and long-term investments, Cost 986us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAmortizedCost
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= us-gaap_FixedIncomeSecuritiesMember		 977us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAmortizedCost
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= us-gaap_FixedIncomeSecuritiesMember		    
Short-term and long-term investments, Gross Unrealized Gains 3us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedGainBeforeTax
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= us-gaap_FixedIncomeSecuritiesMember		 4us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedGainBeforeTax
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= us-gaap_FixedIncomeSecuritiesMember		    
Short-term and long-term investments, Gross Unrealized Losses 2us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedLossBeforeTax
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= us-gaap_FixedIncomeSecuritiesMember		 2us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedLossBeforeTax
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= us-gaap_FixedIncomeSecuritiesMember		    
Short-term and long-term investments, Estimated Fair Value 987us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= us-gaap_FixedIncomeSecuritiesMember		 979us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= us-gaap_FixedIncomeSecuritiesMember		    
U.S. Treasury and agency securities [Member]        
Cash equivalents:        
Short-term and long-term investments, Cost 89us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAmortizedCost
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= us-gaap_USTreasuryAndGovernmentMember		 62us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAmortizedCost
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= us-gaap_USTreasuryAndGovernmentMember		    
Short-term and long-term investments, Gross Unrealized Gains 0us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedGainBeforeTax
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= us-gaap_USTreasuryAndGovernmentMember		 0us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedGainBeforeTax
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= us-gaap_USTreasuryAndGovernmentMember		    
Short-term and long-term investments, Gross Unrealized Losses 0us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedLossBeforeTax
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= us-gaap_USTreasuryAndGovernmentMember		 0us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedLossBeforeTax
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= us-gaap_USTreasuryAndGovernmentMember		    
Short-term and long-term investments, Estimated Fair Value 89us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= us-gaap_USTreasuryAndGovernmentMember		 62us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= us-gaap_USTreasuryAndGovernmentMember		    
Non-US government securities [Member]        
Cash equivalents:        
Short-term and long-term investments, Cost 12us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAmortizedCost
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= us-gaap_ForeignGovernmentDebtSecuritiesMember		 [1] 14us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAmortizedCost
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= us-gaap_ForeignGovernmentDebtSecuritiesMember		    
Short-term and long-term investments, Gross Unrealized Gains 0us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedGainBeforeTax
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= us-gaap_ForeignGovernmentDebtSecuritiesMember		 [1] 0us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedGainBeforeTax
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= us-gaap_ForeignGovernmentDebtSecuritiesMember		    
Short-term and long-term investments, Gross Unrealized Losses 0us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedLossBeforeTax
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= us-gaap_ForeignGovernmentDebtSecuritiesMember		 [1] 0us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedLossBeforeTax
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= us-gaap_ForeignGovernmentDebtSecuritiesMember		    
Short-term and long-term investments, Estimated Fair Value 12us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= us-gaap_ForeignGovernmentDebtSecuritiesMember		 [1] 14us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= us-gaap_ForeignGovernmentDebtSecuritiesMember		    
Municipal securities [Member]        
Cash equivalents:        
Short-term and long-term investments, Cost 375us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAmortizedCost
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= us-gaap_USStatesAndPoliticalSubdivisionsMember		 391us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAmortizedCost
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= us-gaap_USStatesAndPoliticalSubdivisionsMember		    
Short-term and long-term investments, Gross Unrealized Gains 1us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedGainBeforeTax
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= us-gaap_USStatesAndPoliticalSubdivisionsMember		 2us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedGainBeforeTax
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= us-gaap_USStatesAndPoliticalSubdivisionsMember		    
Short-term and long-term investments, Gross Unrealized Losses 0us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedLossBeforeTax
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= us-gaap_USStatesAndPoliticalSubdivisionsMember		 0us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedLossBeforeTax
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= us-gaap_USStatesAndPoliticalSubdivisionsMember		    
Short-term and long-term investments, Estimated Fair Value 376us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= us-gaap_USStatesAndPoliticalSubdivisionsMember		 393us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= us-gaap_USStatesAndPoliticalSubdivisionsMember		    
Commercial paper, corporate bonds and medium-term notes [Member]        
Cash equivalents:        
Short-term and long-term investments, Cost 230us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAmortizedCost
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= amat_CommercialPaperCorporateBondsAndMediumTermNotesMember		 223us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAmortizedCost
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= amat_CommercialPaperCorporateBondsAndMediumTermNotesMember		    
Short-term and long-term investments, Gross Unrealized Gains 1us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedGainBeforeTax
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= amat_CommercialPaperCorporateBondsAndMediumTermNotesMember		 1us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedGainBeforeTax
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= amat_CommercialPaperCorporateBondsAndMediumTermNotesMember		    
Short-term and long-term investments, Gross Unrealized Losses 0us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedLossBeforeTax
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= amat_CommercialPaperCorporateBondsAndMediumTermNotesMember		 0us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedLossBeforeTax
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= amat_CommercialPaperCorporateBondsAndMediumTermNotesMember		    
Short-term and long-term investments, Estimated Fair Value 231us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= amat_CommercialPaperCorporateBondsAndMediumTermNotesMember		 224us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= amat_CommercialPaperCorporateBondsAndMediumTermNotesMember		    
Asset-backed and mortgage-backed securities [Member]        
Cash equivalents:        
Short-term and long-term investments, Cost 280us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAmortizedCost
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= us-gaap_AssetBackedSecuritiesMember		 287us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAmortizedCost
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= us-gaap_AssetBackedSecuritiesMember		    
Short-term and long-term investments, Gross Unrealized Gains 1us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedGainBeforeTax
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= us-gaap_AssetBackedSecuritiesMember		 1us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedGainBeforeTax
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= us-gaap_AssetBackedSecuritiesMember		    
Short-term and long-term investments, Gross Unrealized Losses 2us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedLossBeforeTax
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= us-gaap_AssetBackedSecuritiesMember		 2us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedLossBeforeTax
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= us-gaap_AssetBackedSecuritiesMember		    
Short-term and long-term investments, Estimated Fair Value 279us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= us-gaap_AssetBackedSecuritiesMember		 286us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= us-gaap_AssetBackedSecuritiesMember		    
Publicly traded equity securities [Member]        
Cash equivalents:        
Short-term and long-term investments, Cost 19us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAmortizedCost
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= amat_PubliclyTradedEquitySecuritiesMember		 19us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAmortizedCost
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= amat_PubliclyTradedEquitySecuritiesMember		    
Short-term and long-term investments, Gross Unrealized Gains 27us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedGainBeforeTax
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= amat_PubliclyTradedEquitySecuritiesMember		 31us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedGainBeforeTax
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= amat_PubliclyTradedEquitySecuritiesMember		    
Short-term and long-term investments, Gross Unrealized Losses 0us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedLossBeforeTax
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= amat_PubliclyTradedEquitySecuritiesMember		 0us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedLossBeforeTax
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= amat_PubliclyTradedEquitySecuritiesMember		    
Short-term and long-term investments, Estimated Fair Value $ 46us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= amat_PubliclyTradedEquitySecuritiesMember		 $ 50us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= amat_PubliclyTradedEquitySecuritiesMember		    
[1] Includes agency debt securities guaranteed by non-U.S. governments, which consist of Germany and Canada.