Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 25, 2021	Dec. 26, 2020	Dec. 28, 2019
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income (loss) attributable to Cohu	$ 167,325	$ (13,801)	$ (69,700)
Net income from noncontrolling interest	0	0	8
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:
(Gain) loss on business divestitures	(70,815)	(35)	1,138
Interest capitalized associated with cloud computing implementation	(91)	(124)	(168)
Gain on divestiture of consolidated entity	0	0	(149)
(Gain) loss on extinguishment of debt	3,411	(268)	0
Impairment of Intangible Assets, Indefinite-lived (Excluding Goodwill)	100	11,249	0
Depreciation and amortization	48,568	52,746	58,871
Share-based compensation expense including restructuring charges	13,792	14,234	14,148
Amortization of inventory step-up and inventory related charges	6,523	3,731	8,347
Amortization of debt discounts and issuance costs	643	1,177	1,110
Accrued retiree benefits	(500)	1,675	1,017
Deferred income taxes	953	(5,305)	(5,385)
Changes in other assets	(1,652)	285	(3,044)
Amortization of cloud-based software implementation costs	1,644	1,191	0
(Gain) loss from sale of property, plant and equipment	1	(4,170)	173
Changes in other accrued liabilities	(416)	91	5,348
Changes in current assets and liabilities, excluding effects from divestitures:
Customer advances	(4,090)	2,188	11,548
Accounts receivable	(59,123)	(20,210)	21,150
Inventories	(35,864)	(14,982)	26
Accrued compensation, warranty and other liabilities	225	4,678	(9,405)
Accounts payable	17,316	15,058	(3,122)
Deferred profit	4,732	871	997
Other current assets	1,709	1,150	(5,996)
Income taxes payable	3,444	(2,089)	(10,719)
Operating lease right-of-use assets	6,746	6,831	7,159
Current and long-term operating lease liabilities	(6,852)	(6,437)	(6,083)
Net cash provided by operating activities	97,729	49,734	17,269
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of property, plant and equipment	(12,000)	(18,660)	(18,000)
Net cash received from sale of land, facility and assets	157	17,025	1,767
Purchases of short-term investments	(204,699)	(19,703)	(315)
Sales and maturities of short-term investments	135,549	0	0
Cash received from disposition of business, net of cash paid	120,886	2,975	0
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	39,893	(18,363)	(16,548)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Cash dividends paid	0	(4,971)	(9,827)
Proceeds from revolving line of credit and construction loans	1,376	5,878	5,477
Repayments of long-term debt	(206,069)	(41,056)	(3,817)
Net issuance (repurchases) of stock, including awards settled in cash	(4,390)	2,077	(16)
Acquisition of treasury stock	(7,324)	0	0
Proceeds received from issuance of common stock, net of fees	223,119	0	0
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	6,712	(38,072)	(8,183)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	(3,491)	129	(1,529)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	140,843	(6,572)	(8,991)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year	149,358	155,930	164,921
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year	290,201	149,358	155,930
Cash held by discontinued operations (Note 14)	0	0	(736)
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year from continuing operations	290,201	149,358	155,194
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
Cash paid for income taxes	22,717	5,772	14,942
Cash paid for interest	6,253	16,324	14,846
Property, plant and equipment purchases included in accounts payable	624	1,063	1,601
Inventory capitalized as capital assets	$ 1,635	$ 1,050	$ 300