2.2.0.7 false Organization and Basis of Presentation 0201 - Disclosure - Organization and Basis of Presentation 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 Organization and Basis of Presentation [Abstract] 0 us-gaap_GeneralPoliciesAbstract us-gaap true na duration No definition available. 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 No definition available. false 3 Organization and Basis of Presentation 1 us-gaap_OrganizationConsolidationAndPresentationOfFinancialStatementsDisclosureTextBlock us-gaap true na duration No definition available. false false false false false false false false false false false verboselabel false 1 false false false false 0 0   <div align="left" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; margin-left: 0in; "> <div align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt"><b></b> </div> <div align="left"> </div>   <div align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt"><b></b> </div> <div align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt"><b></b> </div> <div align="justify" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 10pt"><b>Note 1 — Organization and Basis of Presentation</b> </div> <div align="justify" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 10pt; text-indent: 4%">The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements of Altera Corporation and its subsidiaries, collectively referred to herein as “Altera”, “we”, “us”, or “our”, have been prepared by us in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”) for interim financial information. This financial information reflects all adjustments which are, in the opinion of our management, of a normal recurring nature and necessary for a fair statement of the results for the periods presented. The December 31, 2009 consolidated balance sheet data was derived from our audited consolidated financial statements included in our 2009 Annual Report on Form 10-K, but does not include all disclosures required by U.S. GAAP. The consolidated financial statements include our accounts as well as those of our wholly-owned subsidiaries after elimination of all significant inter-company balances and transactions. </div> <div align="justify" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 10pt; text-indent: 4%">The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in our consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ materially from those estimates. </div> <div align="justify" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 10pt; text-indent: 4%">These consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with our audited consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2009 included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K, as filed on February 17, 2010 with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). The consolidated operating results for the three or six months ended July 2, 2010 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for any future period. </div> </div>  <!-- Begin Block Tagged Note false false false us-types:textBlockItemType textblock Description containing the entire organization, consolidation and basis of presentation of financial statements disclosure. May be provided in more than one note to the financial statements, as long as users are provided with an understanding of (1) the significant judgments and assumptions made by an enterprise in determining whether it must consolidate a VIE and/or disclose information about its involvement with a VIE, (2) the nature of restrictions on a consolidated VIE's assets reported by an enterprise in its statement of financial position, including the carrying amounts of such assets, (3) the nature of, and changes in, the risks associated with an enterprise's involvement with the VIE, and (4) how an enterprise's involvement with the VIE affects the enterprise's financial position, financial performance, and cash flows. Describes procedure if disclosures are provided in more than one note to the financial statements. 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