v2.4.1.9
Investments (Summary Of Available-For-Sale Investments) (Details) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
Apr. 25, 2015
Jul. 26, 2014
Available-for-sale investments: [Line Items]    
Amortized Cost $ 49,800us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAmortizedCost $ 44,619us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAmortizedCost
Available-for-sale Securities, Accumulated Gross Unrealized Gain, before Tax 767us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedGainBeforeTax 759us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedGainBeforeTax
Available-for-sale Securities, Accumulated Gross Unrealized Loss, before Tax (18)us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedLossBeforeTax (30)us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedLossBeforeTax
Fair Value 50,549us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities 45,348us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities
Total fixed income securities    
Available-for-sale investments: [Line Items]    
Amortized Cost 48,472us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAmortizedCost
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_FixedIncomeInvestmentsMember
43,305us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAmortizedCost
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_FixedIncomeInvestmentsMember
Available-for-sale Securities, Accumulated Gross Unrealized Gain, before Tax 169us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedGainBeforeTax
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_FixedIncomeInvestmentsMember
111us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedGainBeforeTax
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_FixedIncomeInvestmentsMember
Available-for-sale Securities, Accumulated Gross Unrealized Loss, before Tax (15)us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedLossBeforeTax
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_FixedIncomeInvestmentsMember
(20)us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedLossBeforeTax
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_FixedIncomeInvestmentsMember
Fair Value 48,626us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_FixedIncomeInvestmentsMember
43,396us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_FixedIncomeInvestmentsMember
Total fixed income securities | U.S. government securities    
Available-for-sale investments: [Line Items]    
Amortized Cost 29,364us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAmortizedCost
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= us-gaap_USTreasuryAndGovernmentMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_FixedIncomeInvestmentsMember
31,717us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAmortizedCost
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= us-gaap_USTreasuryAndGovernmentMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_FixedIncomeInvestmentsMember
Available-for-sale Securities, Accumulated Gross Unrealized Gain, before Tax 59us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedGainBeforeTax
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= us-gaap_USTreasuryAndGovernmentMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_FixedIncomeInvestmentsMember
29us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedGainBeforeTax
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= us-gaap_USTreasuryAndGovernmentMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_FixedIncomeInvestmentsMember
Available-for-sale Securities, Accumulated Gross Unrealized Loss, before Tax (1)us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedLossBeforeTax
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= us-gaap_USTreasuryAndGovernmentMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_FixedIncomeInvestmentsMember
(12)us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedLossBeforeTax
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= us-gaap_USTreasuryAndGovernmentMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_FixedIncomeInvestmentsMember
Fair Value 29,422us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= us-gaap_USTreasuryAndGovernmentMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_FixedIncomeInvestmentsMember
31,734us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= us-gaap_USTreasuryAndGovernmentMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_FixedIncomeInvestmentsMember
Total fixed income securities | U.S. government agency securities    
Available-for-sale investments: [Line Items]    
Amortized Cost 3,257us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAmortizedCost
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= us-gaap_USGovernmentAgenciesDebtSecuritiesMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_FixedIncomeInvestmentsMember
1,062us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAmortizedCost
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= us-gaap_USGovernmentAgenciesDebtSecuritiesMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_FixedIncomeInvestmentsMember
Available-for-sale Securities, Accumulated Gross Unrealized Gain, before Tax 6us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedGainBeforeTax
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= us-gaap_USGovernmentAgenciesDebtSecuritiesMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_FixedIncomeInvestmentsMember
1us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedGainBeforeTax
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= us-gaap_USGovernmentAgenciesDebtSecuritiesMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_FixedIncomeInvestmentsMember
Available-for-sale Securities, Accumulated Gross Unrealized Loss, before Tax (1)us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedLossBeforeTax
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= us-gaap_USGovernmentAgenciesDebtSecuritiesMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_FixedIncomeInvestmentsMember
0us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedLossBeforeTax
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= us-gaap_USGovernmentAgenciesDebtSecuritiesMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_FixedIncomeInvestmentsMember
Fair Value 3,262us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= us-gaap_USGovernmentAgenciesDebtSecuritiesMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_FixedIncomeInvestmentsMember
1,063us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= us-gaap_USGovernmentAgenciesDebtSecuritiesMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_FixedIncomeInvestmentsMember
Total fixed income securities | Non-U.S. government and agency securities    
Available-for-sale investments: [Line Items]    
Amortized Cost 1,184us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAmortizedCost
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= us-gaap_ForeignGovernmentDebtSecuritiesMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_FixedIncomeInvestmentsMember
860us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAmortizedCost
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= us-gaap_ForeignGovernmentDebtSecuritiesMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_FixedIncomeInvestmentsMember
Available-for-sale Securities, Accumulated Gross Unrealized Gain, before Tax 2us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedGainBeforeTax
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= us-gaap_ForeignGovernmentDebtSecuritiesMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_FixedIncomeInvestmentsMember
2us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedGainBeforeTax
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= us-gaap_ForeignGovernmentDebtSecuritiesMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_FixedIncomeInvestmentsMember
Available-for-sale Securities, Accumulated Gross Unrealized Loss, before Tax 0us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedLossBeforeTax
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= us-gaap_ForeignGovernmentDebtSecuritiesMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_FixedIncomeInvestmentsMember
(1)us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedLossBeforeTax
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= us-gaap_ForeignGovernmentDebtSecuritiesMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_FixedIncomeInvestmentsMember
Fair Value 1,186us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= us-gaap_ForeignGovernmentDebtSecuritiesMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_FixedIncomeInvestmentsMember
861us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= us-gaap_ForeignGovernmentDebtSecuritiesMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_FixedIncomeInvestmentsMember
Total fixed income securities | Corporate debt securities    
Available-for-sale investments: [Line Items]    
Amortized Cost 13,321us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAmortizedCost
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= us-gaap_CorporateDebtSecuritiesMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_FixedIncomeInvestmentsMember
9,092us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAmortizedCost
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= us-gaap_CorporateDebtSecuritiesMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_FixedIncomeInvestmentsMember
Available-for-sale Securities, Accumulated Gross Unrealized Gain, before Tax 86us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedGainBeforeTax
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= us-gaap_CorporateDebtSecuritiesMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_FixedIncomeInvestmentsMember
74us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedGainBeforeTax
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= us-gaap_CorporateDebtSecuritiesMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_FixedIncomeInvestmentsMember
Available-for-sale Securities, Accumulated Gross Unrealized Loss, before Tax (13)us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedLossBeforeTax
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= us-gaap_CorporateDebtSecuritiesMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_FixedIncomeInvestmentsMember
(7)us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedLossBeforeTax
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= us-gaap_CorporateDebtSecuritiesMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_FixedIncomeInvestmentsMember
Fair Value 13,394us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= us-gaap_CorporateDebtSecuritiesMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_FixedIncomeInvestmentsMember
9,159us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= us-gaap_CorporateDebtSecuritiesMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_FixedIncomeInvestmentsMember
Total fixed income securities | U.S. agency mortgage-backed securities    
Available-for-sale investments: [Line Items]    
Amortized Cost 1,346us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAmortizedCost
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= us-gaap_AssetBackedSecuritiesMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_FixedIncomeInvestmentsMember
574us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAmortizedCost
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= us-gaap_AssetBackedSecuritiesMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_FixedIncomeInvestmentsMember
Available-for-sale Securities, Accumulated Gross Unrealized Gain, before Tax 16us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedGainBeforeTax
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= us-gaap_AssetBackedSecuritiesMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_FixedIncomeInvestmentsMember
5us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedGainBeforeTax
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= us-gaap_AssetBackedSecuritiesMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_FixedIncomeInvestmentsMember
Available-for-sale Securities, Accumulated Gross Unrealized Loss, before Tax 0us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedLossBeforeTax
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= us-gaap_AssetBackedSecuritiesMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_FixedIncomeInvestmentsMember
0us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedLossBeforeTax
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= us-gaap_AssetBackedSecuritiesMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_FixedIncomeInvestmentsMember
Fair Value 1,362us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= us-gaap_AssetBackedSecuritiesMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_FixedIncomeInvestmentsMember
579us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= us-gaap_AssetBackedSecuritiesMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_FixedIncomeInvestmentsMember
Publicly traded equity securities [Member]    
Available-for-sale investments: [Line Items]    
Amortized Cost 1,328us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAmortizedCost
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= csco_PubliclytradedequitysecuritiesMember
1,314us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAmortizedCost
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= csco_PubliclytradedequitysecuritiesMember
Available-for-sale Securities, Accumulated Gross Unrealized Gain, before Tax 598us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedGainBeforeTax
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= csco_PubliclytradedequitysecuritiesMember
648us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedGainBeforeTax
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= csco_PubliclytradedequitysecuritiesMember
Available-for-sale Securities, Accumulated Gross Unrealized Loss, before Tax (3)us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedLossBeforeTax
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= csco_PubliclytradedequitysecuritiesMember
(10)us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedLossBeforeTax
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= csco_PubliclytradedequitysecuritiesMember
Fair Value $ 1,923us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= csco_PubliclytradedequitysecuritiesMember
$ 1,952us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= csco_PubliclytradedequitysecuritiesMember