Basis Of Presentation (Schedule Of Goodwill Accumulated Impairment Loss) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	9 Months Ended							9 Months Ended			9 Months Ended
	Dec. 30, 2011		Dec. 30, 2011 Accumulated Deficit [Member]	Dec. 30, 2011 Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member]	Apr. 01, 2011 Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member]	Dec. 30, 2011 Other Stockholders' Equity [Member]	Apr. 01, 2011 Other Stockholders' Equity [Member]	Dec. 30, 2011 Total Symantec Corporation Stockholders' Equity [Member]	Dec. 30, 2011 Noncontrolling Interest In Subsidiary [Member]	Apr. 01, 2011 Noncontrolling Interest In Subsidiary [Member]	Dec. 30, 2011 Total Stockholders' Equity [Member]
Goodwill Impairment [Line Items]
Beginning balance as of April 2, 2011	$ 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	$ 4,735		$ (4,031)	$ 171	$ 171	$ 8,369	$ 8,369	$ 4,509	$ 77	$ 77	$ 4,586

[1] Derived from audited consolidated 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 allocated to the Services reporting segment to zero. The valuation technique used to estimate the implied fair value of the Services reporting unit goodwill relies on Level 3 inputs, including estimated future cash flows or profit streams. This impairment was recorded to beginning Accumulated deficit as a cumulative-effect adjustment upon adoption.