<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<xbrl
  xml:lang="en-US"
  xmlns="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instance"
  xmlns:dei="http://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019-01-31"
  xmlns:link="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/linkbase"
  xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">
    <link:schemaRef xlink:href="vrsn-20210211.xsd" xlink:type="simple"/>
    <context id="idcde857b511f4946bd3c4e372bdcb530_D20210211-20210211">
        <entity>
            <identifier scheme="http://www.sec.gov/CIK">0001014473</identifier>
        </entity>
        <period>
            <startDate>2021-02-11</startDate>
            <endDate>2021-02-11</endDate>
        </period>
    </context>
    <dei:EntityRegistrantName
      contextRef="idcde857b511f4946bd3c4e372bdcb530_D20210211-20210211"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjg4ZGI4MTUyMDdiODQ2ZThhZDMzZjAyY2U3MzA2ZDFiL3NlYzo4OGRiODE1MjA3Yjg0NmU4YWQzM2YwMmNlNzMwNmQxYl80L2ZyYWc6NGQwNjEwZDFjN2FkNDRhMGE3MDA5N2MxZWZjNzhkYjUvdGFibGU6MmY3ZWM1MzExMWE0NGJkOWEzZThlNGVmMWQxNjI0OWQvdGFibGVyYW5nZToyZjdlYzUzMTExYTQ0YmQ5YTNlOGU0ZWYxZDE2MjQ5ZF8zLTEtMS0xLTA_64e7156f-f0ab-4e87-93e4-ee9d8510697b">VERISIGN INC/CA</dei:EntityRegistrantName>
    <dei:EntityCentralIndexKey
      contextRef="idcde857b511f4946bd3c4e372bdcb530_D20210211-20210211"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjg4ZGI4MTUyMDdiODQ2ZThhZDMzZjAyY2U3MzA2ZDFiL3NlYzo4OGRiODE1MjA3Yjg0NmU4YWQzM2YwMmNlNzMwNmQxYl80L2ZyYWc6NGQwNjEwZDFjN2FkNDRhMGE3MDA5N2MxZWZjNzhkYjUvdGFibGU6MmY3ZWM1MzExMWE0NGJkOWEzZThlNGVmMWQxNjI0OWQvdGFibGVyYW5nZToyZjdlYzUzMTExYTQ0YmQ5YTNlOGU0ZWYxZDE2MjQ5ZF80LTEtMS0xLTA_4d24830d-5158-45ab-b4ca-089218505adc">0001014473</dei:EntityCentralIndexKey>
    <dei:AmendmentFlag
      contextRef="idcde857b511f4946bd3c4e372bdcb530_D20210211-20210211"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjg4ZGI4MTUyMDdiODQ2ZThhZDMzZjAyY2U3MzA2ZDFiL3NlYzo4OGRiODE1MjA3Yjg0NmU4YWQzM2YwMmNlNzMwNmQxYl80L2ZyYWc6NGQwNjEwZDFjN2FkNDRhMGE3MDA5N2MxZWZjNzhkYjUvdGFibGU6MmY3ZWM1MzExMWE0NGJkOWEzZThlNGVmMWQxNjI0OWQvdGFibGVyYW5nZToyZjdlYzUzMTExYTQ0YmQ5YTNlOGU0ZWYxZDE2MjQ5ZF81LTEtMS0xLTA_62c9f34c-9381-4255-bf5a-dd2831980a48">false</dei:AmendmentFlag>
    <dei:DocumentType
      contextRef="idcde857b511f4946bd3c4e372bdcb530_D20210211-20210211"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjg4ZGI4MTUyMDdiODQ2ZThhZDMzZjAyY2U3MzA2ZDFiL3NlYzo4OGRiODE1MjA3Yjg0NmU4YWQzM2YwMmNlNzMwNmQxYl8xL2ZyYWc6YWNlMTU4MjlhOGQ0NDRjMTgwMjQ1MzNmNzhiOGZiZGEvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjphY2UxNTgyOWE4ZDQ0NGMxODAyNDUzM2Y3OGI4ZmJkYV8xMDA3_90469e95-468a-4370-95e0-954075255397">8-K</dei:DocumentType>
    <dei:DocumentPeriodEndDate
      contextRef="idcde857b511f4946bd3c4e372bdcb530_D20210211-20210211"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjg4ZGI4MTUyMDdiODQ2ZThhZDMzZjAyY2U3MzA2ZDFiL3NlYzo4OGRiODE1MjA3Yjg0NmU4YWQzM2YwMmNlNzMwNmQxYl8xL2ZyYWc6YWNlMTU4MjlhOGQ0NDRjMTgwMjQ1MzNmNzhiOGZiZGEvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjphY2UxNTgyOWE4ZDQ0NGMxODAyNDUzM2Y3OGI4ZmJkYV8yMzA_1f495fdb-3dd8-40cc-ab1a-b43f5198bc37">2021-02-11</dei:DocumentPeriodEndDate>
    <dei:EntityIncorporationStateCountryCode
      contextRef="idcde857b511f4946bd3c4e372bdcb530_D20210211-20210211"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjg4ZGI4MTUyMDdiODQ2ZThhZDMzZjAyY2U3MzA2ZDFiL3NlYzo4OGRiODE1MjA3Yjg0NmU4YWQzM2YwMmNlNzMwNmQxYl8xL2ZyYWc6YWNlMTU4MjlhOGQ0NDRjMTgwMjQ1MzNmNzhiOGZiZGEvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjphY2UxNTgyOWE4ZDQ0NGMxODAyNDUzM2Y3OGI4ZmJkYV8xMDA4_4ecbedf1-c458-4870-beb4-80929fc2c533">DE</dei:EntityIncorporationStateCountryCode>
    <dei:EntityFileNumber
      contextRef="idcde857b511f4946bd3c4e372bdcb530_D20210211-20210211"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjg4ZGI4MTUyMDdiODQ2ZThhZDMzZjAyY2U3MzA2ZDFiL3NlYzo4OGRiODE1MjA3Yjg0NmU4YWQzM2YwMmNlNzMwNmQxYl8xL2ZyYWc6YWNlMTU4MjlhOGQ0NDRjMTgwMjQ1MzNmNzhiOGZiZGEvdGFibGU6YzliZjAzNjM1YjNiNGNlZGExNzA0YTg2MzgxMmQyZWUvdGFibGVyYW5nZTpjOWJmMDM2MzViM2I0Y2VkYTE3MDRhODYzODEyZDJlZV8xLTAtMS0xLTA_1c55afd8-72f7-41dc-92cb-1826ef06f356">000-23593</dei:EntityFileNumber>
    <dei:EntityTaxIdentificationNumber
      contextRef="idcde857b511f4946bd3c4e372bdcb530_D20210211-20210211"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjg4ZGI4MTUyMDdiODQ2ZThhZDMzZjAyY2U3MzA2ZDFiL3NlYzo4OGRiODE1MjA3Yjg0NmU4YWQzM2YwMmNlNzMwNmQxYl8xL2ZyYWc6YWNlMTU4MjlhOGQ0NDRjMTgwMjQ1MzNmNzhiOGZiZGEvdGFibGU6YzliZjAzNjM1YjNiNGNlZGExNzA0YTg2MzgxMmQyZWUvdGFibGVyYW5nZTpjOWJmMDM2MzViM2I0Y2VkYTE3MDRhODYzODEyZDJlZV8xLTItMS0xLTA_d273a3c0-4eb9-4685-b616-5467060cc6b2">94-3221585</dei:EntityTaxIdentificationNumber>
    <dei:EntityAddressAddressLine1
      contextRef="idcde857b511f4946bd3c4e372bdcb530_D20210211-20210211"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjg4ZGI4MTUyMDdiODQ2ZThhZDMzZjAyY2U3MzA2ZDFiL3NlYzo4OGRiODE1MjA3Yjg0NmU4YWQzM2YwMmNlNzMwNmQxYl8xL2ZyYWc6YWNlMTU4MjlhOGQ0NDRjMTgwMjQ1MzNmNzhiOGZiZGEvdGFibGU6N2E5ZjY0MTFhZTg5NDU3NmJjODhjZTFkMjg1OGEwNDQvdGFibGVyYW5nZTo3YTlmNjQxMWFlODk0NTc2YmM4OGNlMWQyODU4YTA0NF8xLTAtMS0xLTA_fbd12aa0-903e-47e0-9c07-ae3cf5b62d50">12061 Bluemont Way,</dei:EntityAddressAddressLine1>
    <dei:EntityAddressCityOrTown
      contextRef="idcde857b511f4946bd3c4e372bdcb530_D20210211-20210211"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjg4ZGI4MTUyMDdiODQ2ZThhZDMzZjAyY2U3MzA2ZDFiL3NlYzo4OGRiODE1MjA3Yjg0NmU4YWQzM2YwMmNlNzMwNmQxYl8xL2ZyYWc6YWNlMTU4MjlhOGQ0NDRjMTgwMjQ1MzNmNzhiOGZiZGEvdGFibGU6N2E5ZjY0MTFhZTg5NDU3NmJjODhjZTFkMjg1OGEwNDQvdGFibGVyYW5nZTo3YTlmNjQxMWFlODk0NTc2YmM4OGNlMWQyODU4YTA0NF8yLTAtMS0xLTA_ebf43de8-f19b-420e-ac20-e02e4eb14d8e">Reston,</dei:EntityAddressCityOrTown>
    <dei:EntityAddressStateOrProvince
      contextRef="idcde857b511f4946bd3c4e372bdcb530_D20210211-20210211"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjg4ZGI4MTUyMDdiODQ2ZThhZDMzZjAyY2U3MzA2ZDFiL3NlYzo4OGRiODE1MjA3Yjg0NmU4YWQzM2YwMmNlNzMwNmQxYl8xL2ZyYWc6YWNlMTU4MjlhOGQ0NDRjMTgwMjQ1MzNmNzhiOGZiZGEvdGFibGU6N2E5ZjY0MTFhZTg5NDU3NmJjODhjZTFkMjg1OGEwNDQvdGFibGVyYW5nZTo3YTlmNjQxMWFlODk0NTc2YmM4OGNlMWQyODU4YTA0NF8yLTEtMS0xLTA_92648e3c-0436-452f-9e10-43f62c06adc9">VA</dei:EntityAddressStateOrProvince>
    <dei:EntityAddressPostalZipCode
      contextRef="idcde857b511f4946bd3c4e372bdcb530_D20210211-20210211"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjg4ZGI4MTUyMDdiODQ2ZThhZDMzZjAyY2U3MzA2ZDFiL3NlYzo4OGRiODE1MjA3Yjg0NmU4YWQzM2YwMmNlNzMwNmQxYl8xL2ZyYWc6YWNlMTU4MjlhOGQ0NDRjMTgwMjQ1MzNmNzhiOGZiZGEvdGFibGU6N2E5ZjY0MTFhZTg5NDU3NmJjODhjZTFkMjg1OGEwNDQvdGFibGVyYW5nZTo3YTlmNjQxMWFlODk0NTc2YmM4OGNlMWQyODU4YTA0NF8yLTMtMS0xLTA_a323aba1-2500-4d73-8e87-34d8158cab6c">20190</dei:EntityAddressPostalZipCode>
    <dei:CityAreaCode
      contextRef="idcde857b511f4946bd3c4e372bdcb530_D20210211-20210211"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjg4ZGI4MTUyMDdiODQ2ZThhZDMzZjAyY2U3MzA2ZDFiL3NlYzo4OGRiODE1MjA3Yjg0NmU4YWQzM2YwMmNlNzMwNmQxYl8xL2ZyYWc6YWNlMTU4MjlhOGQ0NDRjMTgwMjQ1MzNmNzhiOGZiZGEvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjphY2UxNTgyOWE4ZDQ0NGMxODAyNDUzM2Y3OGI4ZmJkYV8xMDA5_eddf4961-4c14-46f3-95cd-e826d2ef2da5">703</dei:CityAreaCode>
    <dei:LocalPhoneNumber
      contextRef="idcde857b511f4946bd3c4e372bdcb530_D20210211-20210211"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjg4ZGI4MTUyMDdiODQ2ZThhZDMzZjAyY2U3MzA2ZDFiL3NlYzo4OGRiODE1MjA3Yjg0NmU4YWQzM2YwMmNlNzMwNmQxYl8xL2ZyYWc6YWNlMTU4MjlhOGQ0NDRjMTgwMjQ1MzNmNzhiOGZiZGEvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjphY2UxNTgyOWE4ZDQ0NGMxODAyNDUzM2Y3OGI4ZmJkYV8xMDEw_55564c5d-7c42-46d1-a7c7-18d4d8743745">948-3200</dei:LocalPhoneNumber>
    <dei:WrittenCommunications
      contextRef="idcde857b511f4946bd3c4e372bdcb530_D20210211-20210211"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjg4ZGI4MTUyMDdiODQ2ZThhZDMzZjAyY2U3MzA2ZDFiL3NlYzo4OGRiODE1MjA3Yjg0NmU4YWQzM2YwMmNlNzMwNmQxYl8xL2ZyYWc6YWNlMTU4MjlhOGQ0NDRjMTgwMjQ1MzNmNzhiOGZiZGEvdGFibGU6OGExOWU4YTA2YmU5NGJlZTk3OTgzZWJmOTBhMDA5NTYvdGFibGVyYW5nZTo4YTE5ZThhMDZiZTk0YmVlOTc5ODNlYmY5MGEwMDk1Nl8wLTAtMS0xLTA_faba5254-c078-4c3a-ac5c-63f039e985a2">false</dei:WrittenCommunications>
    <dei:SolicitingMaterial
      contextRef="idcde857b511f4946bd3c4e372bdcb530_D20210211-20210211"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjg4ZGI4MTUyMDdiODQ2ZThhZDMzZjAyY2U3MzA2ZDFiL3NlYzo4OGRiODE1MjA3Yjg0NmU4YWQzM2YwMmNlNzMwNmQxYl8xL2ZyYWc6YWNlMTU4MjlhOGQ0NDRjMTgwMjQ1MzNmNzhiOGZiZGEvdGFibGU6ZmZmMjM4OWFjMzQ2NDVjNmI2OTBlMDVmZWJmMTdlODEvdGFibGVyYW5nZTpmZmYyMzg5YWMzNDY0NWM2YjY5MGUwNWZlYmYxN2U4MV8wLTAtMS0xLTA_b98b2b22-430f-4dcb-9321-70c11778db82">false</dei:SolicitingMaterial>
    <dei:PreCommencementTenderOffer
      contextRef="idcde857b511f4946bd3c4e372bdcb530_D20210211-20210211"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjg4ZGI4MTUyMDdiODQ2ZThhZDMzZjAyY2U3MzA2ZDFiL3NlYzo4OGRiODE1MjA3Yjg0NmU4YWQzM2YwMmNlNzMwNmQxYl8xL2ZyYWc6YWNlMTU4MjlhOGQ0NDRjMTgwMjQ1MzNmNzhiOGZiZGEvdGFibGU6ZGRiNGFhY2MxYWY2NGVkMmI1Njg2YTlkNGRkNWE2ZGUvdGFibGVyYW5nZTpkZGI0YWFjYzFhZjY0ZWQyYjU2ODZhOWQ0ZGQ1YTZkZV8wLTAtMS0xLTA_726c3040-682c-4ff4-af1c-d8cdbc7cbada">false</dei:PreCommencementTenderOffer>
    <dei:PreCommencementIssuerTenderOffer
      contextRef="idcde857b511f4946bd3c4e372bdcb530_D20210211-20210211"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjg4ZGI4MTUyMDdiODQ2ZThhZDMzZjAyY2U3MzA2ZDFiL3NlYzo4OGRiODE1MjA3Yjg0NmU4YWQzM2YwMmNlNzMwNmQxYl8xL2ZyYWc6YWNlMTU4MjlhOGQ0NDRjMTgwMjQ1MzNmNzhiOGZiZGEvdGFibGU6MmRmM2NiOTY0NGMwNGQ0OWEyZDhjMTc4NGJiNDJlMDkvdGFibGVyYW5nZToyZGYzY2I5NjQ0YzA0ZDQ5YTJkOGMxNzg0YmI0MmUwOV8wLTAtMS0xLTA_2607eca5-03c9-4bcd-b6ea-17e52602bd73">false</dei:PreCommencementIssuerTenderOffer>
    <dei:Security12bTitle
      contextRef="idcde857b511f4946bd3c4e372bdcb530_D20210211-20210211"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjg4ZGI4MTUyMDdiODQ2ZThhZDMzZjAyY2U3MzA2ZDFiL3NlYzo4OGRiODE1MjA3Yjg0NmU4YWQzM2YwMmNlNzMwNmQxYl8xL2ZyYWc6YWNlMTU4MjlhOGQ0NDRjMTgwMjQ1MzNmNzhiOGZiZGEvdGFibGU6ZjczMjY2ZDNiY2U1NGJhZTgxM2EzMjBlMDFkMDY2MzUvdGFibGVyYW5nZTpmNzMyNjZkM2JjZTU0YmFlODEzYTMyMGUwMWQwNjYzNV8xLTAtMS0xLTA_bdf50ac3-e12d-4def-ba1c-827c9e00bcbb">Common Stock, $0.001 Par Value Per Share</dei:Security12bTitle>
    <dei:TradingSymbol
      contextRef="idcde857b511f4946bd3c4e372bdcb530_D20210211-20210211"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjg4ZGI4MTUyMDdiODQ2ZThhZDMzZjAyY2U3MzA2ZDFiL3NlYzo4OGRiODE1MjA3Yjg0NmU4YWQzM2YwMmNlNzMwNmQxYl8xL2ZyYWc6YWNlMTU4MjlhOGQ0NDRjMTgwMjQ1MzNmNzhiOGZiZGEvdGFibGU6ZjczMjY2ZDNiY2U1NGJhZTgxM2EzMjBlMDFkMDY2MzUvdGFibGVyYW5nZTpmNzMyNjZkM2JjZTU0YmFlODEzYTMyMGUwMWQwNjYzNV8xLTEtMS0xLTA_b0428f68-267c-4741-a664-ac0166b8fb10">VRSN</dei:TradingSymbol>
    <dei:SecurityExchangeName
      contextRef="idcde857b511f4946bd3c4e372bdcb530_D20210211-20210211"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjg4ZGI4MTUyMDdiODQ2ZThhZDMzZjAyY2U3MzA2ZDFiL3NlYzo4OGRiODE1MjA3Yjg0NmU4YWQzM2YwMmNlNzMwNmQxYl8xL2ZyYWc6YWNlMTU4MjlhOGQ0NDRjMTgwMjQ1MzNmNzhiOGZiZGEvdGFibGU6ZjczMjY2ZDNiY2U1NGJhZTgxM2EzMjBlMDFkMDY2MzUvdGFibGVyYW5nZTpmNzMyNjZkM2JjZTU0YmFlODEzYTMyMGUwMWQwNjYzNV8xLTItMS0xLTA_f2635892-38f0-434b-9832-1c89c5399d8f">NASDAQ</dei:SecurityExchangeName>
    <dei:EntityEmergingGrowthCompany
      contextRef="idcde857b511f4946bd3c4e372bdcb530_D20210211-20210211"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjg4ZGI4MTUyMDdiODQ2ZThhZDMzZjAyY2U3MzA2ZDFiL3NlYzo4OGRiODE1MjA3Yjg0NmU4YWQzM2YwMmNlNzMwNmQxYl8xL2ZyYWc6YWNlMTU4MjlhOGQ0NDRjMTgwMjQ1MzNmNzhiOGZiZGEvdGFibGU6YWJmZDI1NmQ1YzU0NDY1YWJmNjBhNjdiOWM0Y2Y2YmMvdGFibGVyYW5nZTphYmZkMjU2ZDVjNTQ0NjVhYmY2MGE2N2I5YzRjZjZiY18wLTItMS0xLTA_10474722-85eb-4949-86da-846445268001">false</dei:EntityEmergingGrowthCompany>
</xbrl>
