Document And Entity Information - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Feb. 28, 2017	Jun. 30, 2016
Document And Entity Information [Abstract]
Entity Registrant Name	BROADVISION INC
Entity Central Index Key	0000920448
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Filer Category	Smaller Reporting Company
Document Type	10-K
Document Period End Date	Dec. 31, 2016
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2016
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Amendment Flag	false
Trading Symbol	bvsn
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	No
Entity Public Float			$ 21,545,571
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		4,957,524