v2.4.0.6

Employee Benefit Plans (Other Retirement Plans) - Additional Information (Detail) | 12 Months Ended
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Oct. 31, 2012 | Oct. 31, 2012 Other Retirement Plans USD ($) | Oct. 31, 2012 Other Retirement Plans CAD | Oct. 31, 2011 Other Retirement Plans USD ($) | Oct. 31, 2010 Other Retirement Plans USD ($)
Other Retirement Plans [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Deferred percentage of annual cash base compensation | 50.00% |  |  |  |
Deferred percentage of variable cash compensation | 100.00% |  |  |  |
Employer contribution |  | $ 23,200,000 |  | $ 21,400,000 | $ 14,700,000
Pretax employee matching contributions |  | $ 1,500 | 4,000 |  |

X
- Definition Deferred percentage of annual cash base compensation. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | snps_DeferredPercentageOfAnnualCashBaseCompensation
Namespace Prefix: | snps_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Deferred percentage of variable cash compensation. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | snps_DeferredPercentageOfVariableCashCompensation
Namespace Prefix: | snps_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Details
Name: | snps_RetirementPlansLineItems
Namespace Prefix: | snps_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The amount of payment into the fund established for purposes of making future disbursements to the individual in accordance with the terms and understanding of the deferred compensation arrangement. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_DeferredCompensationArrangementWithIndividualEmployerContribution
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Maximum amount per employee, by the terms of the plan, that the employer may contribute to a defined contribution plan. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_DefinedContributionPlanMaximumAnnualContributionPerEmployeeAmount
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration