Goodwill, Purchased Technology and Other Intangible Assets (Finite-lived Intangible Assets) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Oct. 25, 2015	Oct. 26, 2014
Amortized intangible assets
Gross carrying amount	$ 1,932	$ 1,835
Accumulated amortization	(1,195)	(1,011)
Carrying amount	737	824
Silicon Systems
Amortized intangible assets
Gross carrying amount	1,701	1,598
Accumulated amortization	(971)	(793)
Applied Global Services
Amortized intangible assets
Gross carrying amount	72	72
Accumulated amortization	(70)	(68)
Display
Amortized intangible assets
Gross carrying amount	143	143
Accumulated amortization	(143)	(141)
Energy and Environmental Solutions
Amortized intangible assets
Gross carrying amount	16	22
Accumulated amortization	(11)	(9)
Purchased Technology
Amortized intangible assets
Gross carrying amount	1,591	1,489
Accumulated amortization	(1,016)	(853)
Carrying amount	575	636
Purchased Technology | Silicon Systems
Amortized intangible assets
Gross carrying amount	1,449	1,346
Accumulated amortization	(876)	(716)
Purchased Technology | Applied Global Services
Amortized intangible assets
Gross carrying amount	28	28
Accumulated amortization	(26)	(24)
Purchased Technology | Display
Amortized intangible assets
Gross carrying amount	110	110
Accumulated amortization	(110)	(110)
Purchased Technology | Energy and Environmental Solutions
Amortized intangible assets
Gross carrying amount	4	5
Accumulated amortization	(4)	(3)
Other
Amortized intangible assets
Gross carrying amount	341	346
Accumulated amortization	(179)	(158)
Carrying amount	162	188
Other | Silicon Systems
Amortized intangible assets
Gross carrying amount	252	252
Accumulated amortization	(95)	(77)
Other | Applied Global Services
Amortized intangible assets
Gross carrying amount	44	44
Accumulated amortization	(44)	(44)
Other | Display
Amortized intangible assets
Gross carrying amount	33	33
Accumulated amortization	(33)	(31)
Other | Energy and Environmental Solutions
Amortized intangible assets
Gross carrying amount	12	17
Accumulated amortization	$ (7)	$ (6)