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Cognizant Technology Solutions Corp. – ‘10-K’ for 12/31/23 – ‘EX-101.DEF’

On:  Wednesday, 2/14/24, at 12:16pm ET   ·   For:  12/31/23   ·   Accession #:  1058290-24-17   ·   File #:  0-24429

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  As Of               Filer                 Filing    For·On·As Docs:Size

 2/14/24  Cognizant Tech Solutions Corp.    10-K       12/31/23  124:15M

Annual Report   —   Form 10-K   —   SEA’34

Filing Table of Contents

Document/Exhibit                   Description                      Pages   Size 

 1: 10-K        Annual Report                                       HTML   2.74M 
 2: EX-21.1     Subsidiaries List                                   HTML     95K 
 3: EX-23.1     Consent of Expert or Counsel                        HTML     33K 
 8: EX-97.1     Clawback Policy re: Recovery of Erroneously         HTML     41K 
                Awarded Compensation                                             
 4: EX-31.1     Certification -- §302 - SOA'02                      HTML     38K 
 5: EX-31.2     Certification -- §302 - SOA'02                      HTML     38K 
 6: EX-32.1     Certification -- §906 - SOA'02                      HTML     35K 
 7: EX-32.2     Certification -- §906 - SOA'02                      HTML     36K 
14: R1          Cover Cover                                         HTML     99K 
15: R2          Audit Information                                   HTML     39K 
16: R3          Consolidated Statements Of Financial Position       HTML    149K 
17: R4          Consolidated Statements Of Financial Position       HTML     51K 
                (Parenthetical)                                                  
18: R5          Consolidated Statements Of Operations               HTML    115K 
19: R6          Consolidated Statements Of Comprehensive Income     HTML     60K 
20: R7          Consolidated Statements Of Stockholders' Equity     HTML     96K 
21: R8          Consolidated Statements Of Cash Flows               HTML    131K 
22: R9          Consolidated Statements Of Stockholders' Equity     HTML     77K 
                (Parenthetical)                                                  
23: R10         Business Description and Summary of Significant     HTML     93K 
                Accounting Policies                                              
24: R11         Revenues (Notes)                                    HTML    209K 
25: R12         Business Combinations                               HTML    133K 
26: R13         Restructuring Charges                               HTML     53K 
27: R14         Investments                                         HTML     56K 
28: R15         Property and Equipment, net                         HTML     55K 
29: R16         Leases (Notes)                                      HTML     74K 
30: R17         Goodwill and Intangible Assets, net                 HTML     92K 
31: R18         Accrued Expenses and Other Current Liabilities      HTML     44K 
32: R19         Debt                                                HTML     55K 
33: R20         Income Taxes                                        HTML    136K 
34: R21         Derivative Financial Instruments                    HTML     99K 
35: R22         Fair Value Measurements                             HTML    106K 
36: R23         Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income              HTML    108K 
37: R24         Commitments and Contingencies                       HTML     52K 
38: R25         Employee Benefits                                   HTML     41K 
39: R26         Stock-Based Compensation Plans                      HTML     75K 
40: R27         Segment Information                                 HTML     69K 
41: R28         Subsequent Events (Notes)                           HTML     38K 
42: R29         Valuation And Qualifying Accounts                   HTML     63K 
43: R30         Pay vs Performance Disclosure                       HTML     46K 
44: R31         Insider Trading Arrangements                        HTML     40K 
45: R32         Business Description and Summary of Significant     HTML    149K 
                Accounting Policies (Policies)                                   
46: R33         Revenues (Tables)                                   HTML    208K 
47: R34         Business Combinations (Tables)                      HTML    101K 
48: R35         Restructuring and Related Activities (Tables)       HTML     52K 
49: R36         Investments (Tables)                                HTML     48K 
50: R37         Property and Equipment, net (Tables)                HTML     52K 
51: R38         Leases (Tables)                                     HTML     76K 
52: R39         Goodwill and Intangible Assets, net (Tables)        HTML    121K 
53: R40         Accrued Expenses and Other Current Liabilities      HTML     44K 
                (Tables)                                                         
54: R41         Debt (Tables)                                       HTML     52K 
55: R42         Income Taxes (Tables)                               HTML    132K 
56: R43         Derivative Financial Instruments (Tables)           HTML    101K 
57: R44         Fair Value Measurements (Tables)                    HTML    104K 
58: R45         Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Tables)     HTML    108K 
59: R46         Stock-Based Compensation Plans (Tables)             HTML     75K 
60: R47         Segment Information (Tables)                        HTML     63K 
61: R48         Business Description and Summary of Significant     HTML     49K 
                Accounting Policies (Narrative) (Details)                        
62: R49         Revenues Disaggregation of Revenue (Details)        HTML    119K 
63: R50         Revenues Capitalized Costs to Fulfill Contract      HTML     41K 
                with Customer (Details)                                          
64: R51         Revenues Significant Movements in Contract Assets   HTML     45K 
                (Details)                                                        
65: R52         Revenues Significant Movements in Deferred Revenue  HTML     44K 
                Balances (Details)                                               
66: R53         Revenues Remaining Performance Obligations          HTML     47K 
                Narrative (Details)                                              
67: R54         Revenues Trade Accounts Receivable and Allowance    HTML     42K 
                for Doubtful Accounts (Details)                                  
68: R55         Business Combinations (Narrative) (Details)         HTML     75K 
69: R56         Business Combinations Allocation of Purchase Price  HTML    150K 
                (Details)                                                        
70: R57         Restructuring Charges - Summary of Restructuring    HTML     55K 
                Charges (Details)                                                
71: R58         Restructuring Charges - Narrative (Details)         HTML     44K 
72: R59         Restructuring Charges - Restructuring Reserve       HTML     45K 
                (Details)                                                        
73: R60         Investments Short-term and Long-term investments    HTML     67K 
                (Details)                                                        
74: R61         Investments Available-for-sale securities -         HTML     42K 
                proceeds from sales, gross gains and losses                      
                (Details)                                                        
75: R62         Investments Held-to-maturity securities -           HTML     48K 
                amortized cost, gross unrealized gains and losses                
                and fair value (Details)                                         
76: R63         Investments Held-to-maturity securities in a        HTML     51K 
                continuous unrealized loss position (Details)                    
77: R64         Investments Equity Method Investments (Details)     HTML     39K 
78: R65         Property and Equipment, net (Narrative) (Details)   HTML     54K 
79: R66         Property and Equipment, net (Schedule Of Property   HTML     77K 
                And Equipment, Net) (Details)                                    
80: R67         Leases Schedule of Leases Statement of Financial    HTML     58K 
                Position (Details)                                               
81: R68         Leases (Details)                                    HTML     49K 
82: R69         Leases Schedule of Operating Lease Term and         HTML     38K 
                Discount Rate (Details)                                          
83: R70         Leases Schedule of Cash Flow and Other Information  HTML     40K 
                (Details)                                                        
84: R71         Leases Schedule of Future minimum Payments on       HTML     54K 
                Operating Leases (Details)                                       
85: R72         Goodwill and Intangible Assets, net (Schedule Of    HTML     54K 
                Goodwill Allocation By Reportable Segments)                      
                (Details)                                                        
86: R73         Goodwill and Intangible Assets, net (Schedule Of    HTML     59K 
                Components For Intangible Assets) (Details)                      
87: R74         Goodwill and Intangible Assets, net (Schedule Of    HTML     45K 
                Estimated Amortization Expense) (Details)                        
88: R75         Accrued Expenses and Other Current Liabilities      HTML     46K 
                (Accrued Expenses And Other Current Liabilities)                 
                (Details)                                                        
89: R76         Debt (Details)                                      HTML     71K 
90: R77         Debt (Short-Term Debt (Details)                     HTML     39K 
91: R78         Debt (Long-Term Debt) (Details)                     HTML     54K 
92: R79         Debt (Debt Maturities) (Details)                    HTML     57K 
93: R80         Income Taxes (Schedule Of Income Before Provision   HTML     42K 
                For Income Tax) (Details)                                        
94: R81         Income Taxes (Schedule Of Components Of Provision   HTML     55K 
                For Income Taxes) (Details)                                      
95: R82         Income Taxes (Narrative) (Details)                  HTML     96K 
96: R83         Income Taxes (Reconciliation Between Effective      HTML     75K 
                Income Tax Rate And U.S. Federal Statutory Rate)                 
                (Details)                                                        
97: R84         Income Taxes (Schedule Of Deferred Tax Assets And   HTML     66K 
                Liabilities) (Details)                                           
98: R85         Income Taxes ITD Dispute (Details)                  HTML     67K 
99: R86         Income Taxes (Summary Of Changes In Unrecognized    HTML     52K 
                Tax Benefits) (Details)                                          
100: R87         Derivative Financial Instruments (Narrative)        HTML     36K  
                (Details)                                                        
101: R88         Derivative Financial Instruments (Location And      HTML     60K  
                Fair Values Of Derivative Financial Instruments In               
                Our Consolidated Statement Of Financial Position)                
                (Details)                                                        
102: R89         Derivative Financial Instruments (Notional Value    HTML     49K  
                Of Outstanding Cash Flow Hedge Contracts By Year                 
                Of Maturity And Net Unrealized (Loss) Gain                       
                Included In Accumulated Other Comprehensive                      
                Income) (Details)                                                
103: R90         Derivative Financial Instruments (Location And      HTML     48K  
                Amounts Of Pre-Tax Gains (Losses) On Cash Flow                   
                Hedge Derivatives Financial Instruments) (Details)               
104: R91         Derivative Financial Instruments (Additional        HTML     41K  
                Information Related To Outstanding Contracts Not                 
                Designated As Hedging Instruments) (Details)                     
105: R92         Derivative Financial Instruments (Location And      HTML     42K  
                Amounts Of Pre-Tax Gains (Losses) On Derivative                  
                Financial Instruments Not Designated As Hedges)                  
                (Details)                                                        
106: R93         Fair Value Measurements (Financial Assets And       HTML    117K  
                (Liabilities) Measured At Fair Value On A                        
                Recurring Basis) (Details)                                       
107: R94         Fair Value Measurements (Level 3 Contingent         HTML     48K  
                Consideration Liabilities) (Details)                             
108: R95         Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Accumulated  HTML     97K  
                Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) (Details)                      
109: R96         Commitments and Contingencies (Narrative)           HTML     49K  
                (Details)                                                        
110: R97         Employee Benefits (Narrative) (Details)             HTML     51K  
111: R98         Stock-Based Compensation Plans (Narrative)          HTML     68K  
                (Details)                                                        
112: R99         Stock-Based Compensation Plans (Schedule Of         HTML     46K  
                Allocation Of Total Stock-Based Compensation                     
                Expense) (Details)                                               
113: R100        Stock-Based Compensation Plans (Schedule Of         HTML     49K  
                Assumptions Used To Calculate The Fair Value Of                  
                Option Grants) (Details)                                         
114: R101        Stock-Based Compensation Plans (Summary Of The      HTML     78K  
                Activity For Performance Stock Units) (Details)                  
115: R102        Stock-Based Compensation Plans (Summary Of The      HTML     59K  
                Activity For Restricted Stock Units) (Details)                   
116: R103        Segment Information (Revenues From External         HTML     52K  
                Customers And Segment Operating Profit) (Details)                
117: R104        Segment Information (Revenues And Long-Lived        HTML     43K  
                Assets By Geographic Area) (Details)                             
118: R105        Subsequent Events (Details)                         HTML     46K  
119: R106        Valuation And Qualifying Accounts (Valuation And    HTML     48K  
                Qualifying Accounts) (Details)                                   
121: XML         IDEA XML File -- Filing Summary                      XML    241K  
124: XML         XBRL Instance -- ctsh-20231231_htm                   XML   3.65M  
120: EXCEL       IDEA Workbook of Financial Report Info              XLSX    239K  
10: EX-101.CAL  XBRL Calculations -- ctsh-20231231_cal               XML    262K 
11: EX-101.DEF  XBRL Definitions -- ctsh-20231231_def                XML   1.01M 
12: EX-101.LAB  XBRL Labels -- ctsh-20231231_lab                     XML   2.57M 
13: EX-101.PRE  XBRL Presentations -- ctsh-20231231_pre              XML   1.67M 
 9: EX-101.SCH  XBRL Schema -- ctsh-20231231                         XSD    229K 
122: JSON        XBRL Instance as JSON Data -- MetaLinks              729±  1.11M  
123: ZIP         XBRL Zipped Folder -- 0001058290-24-000017-xbrl      Zip   1.28M  


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24 Previous Filings that this Filing References

  As Of               Filer                 Filing    For·On·As Docs:Size             Issuer                      Filing Agent

 9/28/23  Cognizant Tech Solutions Corp.    8-K:5       9/28/23   11:10M
 8/03/23  Cognizant Tech Solutions Corp.    10-Q        6/30/23   89:11M
 6/06/23  Cognizant Tech Solutions Corp.    S-8         6/06/23    6:416K
 3/06/23  Cognizant Tech Solutions Corp.    8-K:5,9     3/06/23   11:312K
 2/15/23  Cognizant Tech Solutions Corp.    10-K       12/31/22  123:16M
 1/12/23  Cognizant Tech Solutions Corp.    8-K:2,5,7,9 1/09/23   14:899K
10/07/22  Cognizant Tech Solutions Corp.    8-K:1,2,9  10/06/22   11:46M
 7/28/22  Cognizant Tech Solutions Corp.    10-Q        6/30/22   74:11M
 2/16/22  Cognizant Tech Solutions Corp.    10-K       12/31/21  123:18M
 2/12/21  Cognizant Tech Solutions Corp.    10-K       12/31/20  122:16M
 7/30/20  Cognizant Tech Solutions Corp.    10-Q        6/30/20   80:12M
 7/29/20  Cognizant Tech Solutions Corp.    8-K:5,9     7/17/20   12:278K                                   DG3/FA
 5/08/20  Cognizant Tech Solutions Corp.    10-Q        3/31/20   81:11M
 2/14/20  Cognizant Tech Solutions Corp.    10-K       12/31/19  128:18M
 2/19/19  Cognizant Tech Solutions Corp.    10-K       12/31/18  135:18M
 9/20/18  Cognizant Tech Solutions Corp.    8-K:5,9     9/14/18    3:258K
 6/07/18  Cognizant Tech Solutions Corp.    8-K:5,9     6/05/18    6:504K
 2/27/18  Cognizant Tech Solutions Corp.    10-K       12/31/17  121:15M
 8/03/17  Cognizant Tech Solutions Corp.    10-Q        6/30/17   77:10M
 6/07/17  Cognizant Tech Solutions Corp.    8-K:5,9     6/06/17    2:328K
 5/04/15  Cognizant Tech Solutions Corp.    10-Q        3/31/15   64:9.7M
 8/07/13  Cognizant Tech Solutions Corp.    10-Q        6/30/13  111:16M                                    Donnelley … Solutions/FA
 7/06/09  Cognizant Tech Solutions Corp.    8-K:5,9     7/06/09    9:122K                                   Donnelley … Solutions/FA
 1/30/03  Cognizant Tech Solutions Corp.    S-4/A                  3:715K                                   Donnelley … Solutions/FA
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