symc:AccountingForConvertibleDebtInstrumentsAbstract Accounting for Convertible Debt Instruments [Abstract] Accounting for convertible debt instruments [Abstract] 0 symc:BasisOfPresentationAbstract Basis of Presentation [Abstract] Basis of Presentation [Abstract] 0 symc:ContentSubscriptionsAndMaintenance Content, subscription and maintenance Costs from generating revenue from multiple-deliverable arrangements that include content, subscriptions, and maintenance services. The services may include maintenance, subscriptions, consulting, training, and software as a service (SaaS) offerings. Maintenance and content revenue is derived from support services which provide updates, upgrades, and bug fixes purchased with our products. Consulting services often include implementation support, customization or modification of the licensed software and training services. Subscriptions and SaaS offerings are term or service based license and maintenance, provided over a specified term. 4 symc:ContentSubscriptionsAndMaintenanceRevenue Content, subscription, and maintenance Revenue from multiple-deliverable arrangements that include content, subscriptions, and maintenance services. The services may include maintenance, subscriptions, consulting, training, and software as a service (SaaS) offerings. Maintenance and content revenue is derived from support services which provide updates, upgrades, and bug fixes purchased with our products. Consulting services often include implementation support, customization or modification of the licensed software and training services. Subscriptions and SaaS offerings are term or service based license and maintenance, provided over a specified term. 4 symc:EarningsPerShareAbstractDisclosure Earnings Per Share [Abstract] Earnings Per Share [Abstract] 0 symc:FairValueMeasurementsAbstract Fair Value Measurements [Abstract] Fair Value Measurements [Abstract] 0 symc:GoodwillAcquiredProductRightsAndOtherIntangibleAssetsAbstract Goodwill and Intangible Assets [Abstract] Goodwill, Acquired Product Rights, and Other Intangible Assets [Abstract] 0 symc:IncomeTaxesAbstract Income Taxes [Abstract] Income Taxes [Abstract] 0 symc:InvestmentInJointVentureAbstract Investment in Joint Venture [Abstract] Investment in Joint Venture [Abstract] 0 symc:InvestmentsAbstractDisclosure Investments [Abstract] Investments [Abstract] 0 symc:LitigationAbstract Litigation [Abstract] Litigation [Abstract] 0 symc:RestructuringAbstract Restructuring [Abstract] Restructuring [Abstract] 0 symc:SegmentInformationAbstract Segment Information [Abstract] Segment Information [Abstract] 0 symc:StockBasedCompensationAbstract Stock-Based Compensation [Abstract] Stock-based Compensation [Abstract] 0 symc:StockRepurchasesAbstract Stock Repurchases [Abstract] Stock repurchases [Abstract] 0