Short-Term and Long-Term Debt - Summary of Term Loan (Details) - Secured Debt - Term Loan
Jul. 15, 2014
USD ($)
Oct. 31, 2015
USD ($)
Debt Instrument [Line Items]    
Aggregate principal amount $ 250,000,000 $ 246,875,000
LIBOR interest floor 0.75%  
Quarterly payment, percent of principal 0.25%  
Periodic payment $ 600,000  
Credit agreement threshold total secured net leverage ratio 2.50  
Credit agreement, mandatory prepayment requirement prepayment percentage of excess annual cash flow 50.00%  
Unamortized Discount   (1,076,000)
Notes Payable   245,799,000
Long-term Debt, Fair Value [1],[2]   $ 247,184,000
London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR)    
Debt Instrument [Line Items]    
Basis spread on variable rate 3.00%  
[1] Includes unamortized bond discount.
[2] The Term Loan was categorized as Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy. Ciena estimated the fair value of its Term Loan using a market approach based upon observable inputs, such as current market transactions involving this security.