Goodwill And Intangible Assets (Schedule Of Goodwill Accumulated Impairment Loss) (Details) (USD $) In Millions	3 Months Ended							3 Months Ended			3 Months Ended
	Jul. 01, 2011		Jul. 01, 2011 Accumulated Deficit [Member]	Jul. 01, 2011 Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member]	Apr. 01, 2011 Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member]	Jul. 01, 2011 Other Stockholder's Equity [Member]	Apr. 01, 2011 Other Stockholder's Equity [Member]	Jul. 01, 2011 Total Symantec Corporation Stockholders' Equity [Member]	Jul. 01, 2011 Noncontrolling Interest in Subsidiary [Member]	Apr. 01, 2011 Noncontrolling Interest in Subsidiary [Member]	Jul. 01, 2011 Total Stockholders' Equity [Member]
Beginning balance	$ 4,605	[1]	$ (4,012)	$ 171	$ 171	$ 8,369	$ 8,369	$ 4,528	$ 77	$ 77	$ 4,605
Cumulative effect adjustment	19	[2]	(19)					(19)			(19)
Beginning balance as adjusted	$ 4,644		$ (4,031)	$ 171	$ 171	$ 8,369	$ 8,369	$ 4,509	$ 77	$ 77	$ 4,586

[1] Derived from audited financial statements.

[2] Due to the adoption of new authoritative accounting guidance at the beginning of our fiscal year (see Note 1), we were required to perform a goodwill Step 2 impairment test for our Services reporting unit. As a result, we recognized an impairment loss of $19 million which reduced the carrying value of goodwill reported in the Services reporting segment to zero. The valuation technique used by the Company to estimate the fair value of the Services reporting unit goodwill, relies on Level 3 inputs, including estimated fair value using future cash flows or profit streams. This impairment was recorded to beginning Accumulated deficit as a cumulative-effect adjustment upon adoption.