Goodwill, Purchased Technology and Other Intangible Assets (Schedule of Finite-lived Intangible Assets) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Jul. 26, 2015	Oct. 26, 2014
Finite-lived intangible assets
Gross carrying amount	$ 1,933	$ 1,835
Accumulated amortization	(1,148)	(1,011)
Total	785	824
Silicon Systems Group [Member]
Finite-lived intangible assets
Gross carrying amount	1,701	1,598
Accumulated amortization	(925)	(793)
Applied Global Services [Member]
Finite-lived intangible assets
Gross carrying amount	73	72
Accumulated amortization	(69)	(68)
Display [Member]
Finite-lived intangible assets
Gross carrying amount	143	143
Accumulated amortization	(143)	(141)
Energy And Environmental Solutions [Member]
Finite-lived intangible assets
Gross carrying amount	16	22
Accumulated amortization	(11)	(9)
Purchased technology [Member]
Finite-lived intangible assets
Gross carrying amount	1,592	1,489
Accumulated amortization	(974)	(853)
Total	618	636
Purchased technology [Member] | Silicon Systems Group [Member]
Finite-lived intangible assets
Gross carrying amount	1,449	1,346
Accumulated amortization	(835)	(716)
Purchased technology [Member] | Applied Global Services [Member]
Finite-lived intangible assets
Gross carrying amount	29	28
Accumulated amortization	(25)	(24)
Purchased technology [Member] | Display [Member]
Finite-lived intangible assets
Gross carrying amount	110	110
Accumulated amortization	(110)	(110)
Purchased technology [Member] | Energy And Environmental Solutions [Member]
Finite-lived intangible assets
Gross carrying amount	4	5
Accumulated amortization	(4)	(3)
Other [Member]
Finite-lived intangible assets
Gross carrying amount	341	346
Accumulated amortization	(174)	(158)
Total	167	188
Other [Member] | Silicon Systems Group [Member]
Finite-lived intangible assets
Gross carrying amount	252	252
Accumulated amortization	(90)	(77)
Other [Member] | Applied Global Services [Member]
Finite-lived intangible assets
Gross carrying amount	44	44
Accumulated amortization	(44)	(44)
Other [Member] | Display [Member]
Finite-lived intangible assets
Gross carrying amount	33	33
Accumulated amortization	(33)	(31)
Other [Member] | Energy And Environmental Solutions [Member]
Finite-lived intangible assets
Gross carrying amount	12	17
Accumulated amortization	$ (7)	$ (6)