Summary of Significant Accounting Policies	3 Months Ended
Apr. 30, 2017
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies	2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies Applicable Accounting Guidance Any reference in these notes to applicable accounting guidance is meant to refer to the authoritative United States generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) as found in the Financial Accounting Standards Board’s (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”). Basis of Presentation The interim financial data as of April 30, 2017 and for the three months ended April 30, 2017 and 2016 are unaudited; however, in the opinion of the Company’s management, the interim data includes all adjustments, consisting of normal recurring adjustments, necessary for a fair statement of the results for the interim periods presented. The condensed consolidated balance sheet presented as of January 31, 2017 has been derived from the audited consolidated financial statements as of that date. The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements presented herein have been prepared by the Company pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission regarding interim financial reporting. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and note disclosures required by GAAP for complete financial statements and should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in the Exa annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended January 31, 2017 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 22, 2017. Use of Estimates The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make significant estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting periods. Changes in estimates are recorded in the period in which they become known. The Company bases its estimates on historical experience and various other assumptions that it believes to be reasonable under the circumstances. Actual results could differ from management’s estimates if future events differ substantially from past experience, or other assumptions, which reasonable when made, do not turn out to be substantially accurate. Recent Accounting Pronouncements In May 2014, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, which supersedes nearly all existing revenue recognition guidance under GAAP. The core principle of ASU 2014-09 is to recognize revenues when promised goods or services are transferred to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which an entity expects to be entitled for those goods or services. ASU 2014-09 defines a five-step process to achieve this core principle, as a result of which more judgment and estimates may be required within the revenue recognition process than are required under existing GAAP. The standard is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017, and interim periods therein. The two permitted transition methods under the new standard are: (i) a full retrospective approach reflecting the application of the standard in each prior reporting period with the option to elect certain practical expedients, or (ii) a retrospective approach with the cumulative effect of initially adopting ASU 2014-09 recognized at the date of adoption (which includes additional footnote disclosures). Though the Company continues to evaluate the impact of its pending adoption of this standard, the Company plans to adopt the standard using the modified retrospective approach with the cumulative effect of initially adopting recognized at the date of adoption. The standard is expected to have a significant impact on the way the Company accounts and contracts for its on-premise software license contracts. Accounting for revenue related to services and ExaCLOUD offerings is expected to remain substantially unchanged due to the over-time nature of such performance obligations. Due to the complexity of certain of the Company’s license contracts, the actual revenue recognition treatment required under the standard may be dependent on contract-specific terms at the time of sale and adoption of the new standard. The Company is also assessing the impact of capitalizing costs associated with ongoing customer contracts, specifically commission payments. In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842). This standard requires the recognition of lease assets and liabilities for all leases, with certain exceptions, on the balance sheet. In transition, lessees and lessors are required to recognize and measure leases at the beginning of the earliest period presented using a modified retrospective approach. This ASU is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2018, and for interim periods therein. The Company is currently evaluating the requirements of this ASU and has not yet determined the impact on its consolidated financial results. In November 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-18, Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230)-Restricted Cash. This standard requires that a statement of cash flows explain the change during the period in the total of cash, cash equivalents and amounts generally described as restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents. Therefore, amounts generally described as restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents should be included with cash and cash equivalents when reconciling the beginning-of-period and end-of-period total amounts shown on the statement of cash flows. The provisions of this ASU are effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017, and for interim periods therein. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the requirements of this ASU, but does not expect it to have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial results. In May 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-09, Compensation – Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Scope of Modification Accounting. This standard provides clarity and reduces both diversity in practice and cost complexity when applying the guidance in Topic 718 to a change to the terms and conditions of a share-based payment award. ASU 2017-09 also provides guidance about the types of changes to the terms or conditions of a share-based payment award that require an entity to apply modification accounting in accordance with Topic 718. The provisions of this ASU are effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017, and for interim periods therein. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the requirements of this ASU, but does not expect it to have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial results.

2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Applicable Accounting Guidance

Any reference in these notes to applicable accounting guidance is meant to refer to the authoritative United States generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) as found in the Financial Accounting Standards Board’s (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”).

Basis of Presentation

The interim financial data as of April 30, 2017 and for the three months ended April 30, 2017 and 2016 are unaudited; however, in the opinion of the Company’s management, the interim data includes all adjustments, consisting of normal recurring adjustments, necessary for a fair statement of the results for the interim periods presented. The condensed consolidated balance sheet presented as of January 31, 2017 has been derived from the audited consolidated financial statements as of that date. The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements presented herein have been prepared by the Company pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission regarding interim financial reporting. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and note disclosures required by GAAP for complete financial statements and should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in the Exa annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended January 31, 2017 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 22, 2017.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make significant estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting periods. Changes in estimates are recorded in the period in which they become known. The Company bases its estimates on historical experience and various other assumptions that it believes to be reasonable under the circumstances. Actual results could differ from management’s estimates if future events differ substantially from past experience, or other assumptions, which reasonable when made, do not turn out to be substantially accurate.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In May 2014, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, which supersedes nearly all existing revenue recognition guidance under GAAP. The core principle of ASU 2014-09 is to recognize revenues when promised goods or services are transferred to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which an entity expects to be entitled for those goods or services. ASU 2014-09 defines a five-step process to achieve this core principle, as a result of which more judgment and estimates may be required within the revenue recognition process than are required under existing GAAP. The standard is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017, and interim periods therein. The two permitted transition methods under the new standard are: (i) a full retrospective approach reflecting the application of the standard in each prior reporting period with the option to elect certain practical expedients, or (ii) a retrospective approach with the cumulative effect of initially adopting ASU 2014-09 recognized at the date of adoption (which includes additional footnote disclosures).

Though the Company continues to evaluate the impact of its pending adoption of this standard, the Company plans to adopt the standard using the modified retrospective approach with the cumulative effect of initially adopting recognized at the date of adoption. The standard is expected to have a significant impact on the way the Company accounts and contracts for its on-premise software license contracts. Accounting for revenue related to services and ExaCLOUD offerings is expected to remain substantially unchanged due to the over-time nature of such performance obligations. Due to the complexity of certain of the Company’s license contracts, the actual revenue recognition treatment required under the standard may be dependent on contract-specific terms at the time of sale and adoption of the new standard. The Company is also assessing the impact of capitalizing costs associated with ongoing customer contracts, specifically commission payments.

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842). This standard requires the recognition of lease assets and liabilities for all leases, with certain exceptions, on the balance sheet. In transition, lessees and lessors are required to recognize and measure leases at the beginning of the earliest period presented using a modified retrospective approach. This ASU is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2018, and for interim periods therein. The Company is currently evaluating the requirements of this ASU and has not yet determined the impact on its consolidated financial results.

In November 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-18, Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230)-Restricted Cash. This standard requires that a statement of cash flows explain the change during the period in the total of cash, cash equivalents and amounts generally described as restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents. Therefore, amounts generally described as restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents should be included with cash and cash equivalents when reconciling the beginning-of-period and end-of-period total amounts shown on the statement of cash flows. The provisions of this ASU are effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017, and for interim periods therein. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the requirements of this ASU, but does not expect it to have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial results.

In May 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-09, Compensation – Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Scope of Modification Accounting. This standard provides clarity and reduces both diversity in practice and cost complexity when applying the guidance in Topic 718 to a change to the terms and conditions of a share-based payment award. ASU 2017-09 also provides guidance about the types of changes to the terms or conditions of a share-based payment award that require an entity to apply modification accounting in accordance with Topic 718. The provisions of this ASU are effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017, and for interim periods therein. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the requirements of this ASU, but does not expect it to have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial results.