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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 IxN+ndl3ZeUTn12FU3IJAZ98G/0rVACrXBvohcA7pZtpKJ356CqOWgBf5BBzSFUG
 VPa4GSTyLH487cBVdg+1QA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001019687-03-002527.txt : 20031219
<SEC-HEADER>0001019687-03-002527.hdr.sgml : 20031219
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20031219182632
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001019687-03-002527
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031218
FILED AS OF DATE:		20031219

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			TOBIN BRIAN E
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001268113

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-25857
		FILM NUMBER:		031066181

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1720 G AMPLETT BLVD
		STREET 2:		3RD FLOOR
		CITY:			SAN MATEO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94402

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			PERSISTENCE SOFTWARE INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001084400
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SERVICES-PREPACKAGED SOFTWARE [7372]
		IRS NUMBER:				943138935
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			CA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1720 SOUTH AMPHLETT BLVD., 3RD FLOOR
		CITY:			SAN MATEO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94402
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6503417733

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1720 S. AMPHLETT BLVD, 3RD FLOOR
		CITY:			SAN MATEO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94402
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-12-18</periodOfReport>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001084400</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>PERSISTENCE SOFTWARE INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>PRSW</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001268113</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>TOBIN BRIAN E</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O PERSISTENCE SOFTWARE, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>1720 SOUTH AMPHLETT BLVD., 3RD FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SAN MATEO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>94402</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>0</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>Acting Chief Financial Officer</officerTitle></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><derivativeTable><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Stock Option (right to buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>4.11</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-12-18</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>5500</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>0</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><footnoteId id="F1"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2013-12-18</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTi
tle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>5500</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>5500</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeTransaction><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Stock Option (right to buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>4.11</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-12-18</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>2000</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>0</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDis
posedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><footnoteId id="F2"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2013-12-18</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>2000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>2000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeTransaction></derivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">1/2 of total shares vests on 12/18/2004 and 1/24th of total shares vests monthly thereafter.</footnote><footnote id="F2">1/4th of total shares vests on 12/18/2004 and 1/48th of total shares vests monthly thereafter.</footnote></footnotes><remarks/><ownerSignature><signatureName>Brian
 Tobin</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-12-18</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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