2.2.0.7 false Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation Plan 0213 - Disclosure - Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation Plan true false false false 1 USD false false USD Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217 USD iso4217 0 Pure Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instance pure xbrli 0 USDEPS Divide http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217 USD iso4217 http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instance shares xbrli 0 Shares Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instance shares xbrli 0 $ 2 Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation Plan [Abstract] 0 altr_NonQualifiedDeferredCompensationPlanAbstract altr false na duration Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation Plan. false false false false false true false false false false false false 1 false false false false 0 0 false false false xbrli:stringItemType string Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation Plan. false 3 Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation Plan 1 altr_NonQualifiedDeferredCompensationPlanTextBlock altr false na duration Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation Plan. false false false false false false false false false false false verboselabel false 1 false false false false 0 0   <div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; margin-left: 0in; "> <div align="justify" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 10pt"><b>Note 13 — Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation Plan</b> </div> <div align="justify" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 10pt; text-indent: 4%">We allow our U.S.-based officers and director-level employees to defer a portion of their compensation under the Altera Corporation Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation Plan (“NQDC Plan”). Our Retirement Plans Committee administers the NQDC Plan. As of July 2, 2010, there were approximately 114 participants in the NQDC Plan who self-direct their investments, subject to certain limitations. In the event we become insolvent, the NQDC Plan assets are subject to the claims of our general creditors. Since the inception of the NQDC Plan, we have not made any contributions to the NQDC Plan and we have no commitments to do so in the future. There are no NQDC Plan provisions that provide for any guarantees or minimum return on investments. NQDC Plan participants are prohibited from investing NQDC Plan contributions in Altera common stock. The balance of the NQDC Plan assets and related obligations was $65.1 million and $69.9 million as of July 2, 2010 and December 31, 2009, respectively. </div> <div align="justify" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 10pt; text-indent: 4%">Investment income or loss earned by the NQDC Plan is recorded as <i>Loss/(gain)on deferred compensation plan securities </i>in our consolidated statements of income. The investment (gain) loss also represents an (increase) decrease in the future payout to participants and is recorded as <i>Compensation (benefit)/expense — deferred compensation plan </i>in our consolidated statements of income. Compensation expense (benefit) associated with our NQDC Plan obligations is offset by (gain) loss from related securities. The net effect of investment income or loss and related compensation expense or benefit has no impact on our income before income taxes, net income, or cash balances. </div> </div>  <!-- Begin Block Tagged Note false false false us-types:textBlockItemType textblock Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation Plan. No authoritative reference available. false 1 2 false UnKnown UnKnown UnKnown false true