Consolidated Statements Of Equity (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Shares Of Common Stock [Member]	Common Stock And Additional Paid-In Capital [Member] USD ($)	Retained Earnings [Member] USD ($)	AOCI [Member] USD ($)	Total Cisco Shareholders' Equity [Member] USD ($)	Noncontrolling Interests [Member] USD ($)	Total USD ($)
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent, Beginning Balance at Jul. 31, 2010					$ 44,267
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests, Beginning Balance at Jul. 31, 2010						18
Beginning balance at Jul. 31, 2010		37,793	5,851	623			44,285
BALANCE, Shares at Jul. 31, 2010	5,655
Net income			3,451		3,451		3,451
Change in:
Unrealized gains and losses on investments, total equity							116
Unrealized gains and losses on investments, noncontrolling						27	27
Unrealized gains and losses on investments, AOCI				89			116
Unrealized gains and losses on investments, total Cisco shareholders' equity					89
Derivative instruments, parent					19
Derivative instruments				19			19
Cumulative translation adjustment and other, parent					245
Cumulative translation adjustment and other				245			245
Comprehensive income					3,804
Comprehensive income, noncontrolling						27
Comprehensive income (loss)							3,831
Issuance of common stock, Shares	87
Issuance of common stock, Value		1,158			1,158		1,158
Repurchase of common stock, Shares	(209)
Repurchase of common stock, Value		(1,489)	(2,939)		(4,428)		(4,428)
Tax effects from employee stock incentive plans		(3)			(3)		(3)
Purchase acquisitions, Value		6			6		6
Share-based compensation expense		837			837		837
Ending balance at Jan. 29, 2011		38,302	6,363	976			45,686
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Ending Balance at Jan. 29, 2011						45
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent, Ending Balance at Jan. 29, 2011					45,641
BALANCE, Shares at Jan. 29, 2011	5,533
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent, Beginning Balance at Jul. 30, 2011					47,226		47,226
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests, Beginning Balance at Jul. 30, 2011						33	33
Beginning balance at Jul. 30, 2011		38,648	7,284	1,294			47,259
BALANCE, Shares at Jul. 30, 2011	5,435
Net income			3,959		3,959		3,959
Change in:
Unrealized gains and losses on investments, total equity							(73)
Unrealized gains and losses on investments, noncontrolling							(14)
Unrealized gains and losses on investments, AOCI				(59)			(73)
Unrealized gains and losses on investments, total Cisco shareholders' equity					(59)
Unrealized gains and losses on investments, noncontrolling interests						(14)
Derivative instruments, parent					(68)
Derivative instruments				(68)			(68)
Cumulative translation adjustment and other, parent					(317)
Cumulative translation adjustment and other				(317)			(317)
Comprehensive income					3,515
Noncontrolling interests						(14)
Total equity							3,501
Issuance of common stock, Shares	78
Issuance of common stock, Value		653			653		653
Repurchase of common stock, Shares	(135)						(126)
Repurchase of common stock, Value		(1,046)	(1,109)		(2,155)		(2,155)
Cash dividends declared			(644)		(644)		(644)
Tax effects from employee stock incentive plans		(48)			(48)		(48)
Purchase acquisitions, Value		4			4		4
Share-based compensation expense		695			695		695
Ending balance at Jan. 28, 2012		38,906	9,490	850			49,265
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Ending Balance at Jan. 28, 2012						19	19
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent, Ending Balance at Jan. 28, 2012					$ 49,246		$ 49,246
BALANCE, Shares at Jan. 28, 2012	5,378