4
1
NASD

  0001185654
  Officer


  Exar Corporation
  0000753568
  941741481

04/04/03
4
UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 4
STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP

[ ] Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16.
    Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue.
1. Name and Address of Reporting Person(s)
   MELENDREZ, THOMAS R
   48720 Kato Road


   Fremont, CA  94538
2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
   Exar Corporation (EXAR)
3. I.R.S. Identification Number of Reporting Person, if an entity (Voluntary)

4. Statement for Month/Day/Year
   4/4/03
5. If Amendment, Date of Original (Month/Day/Year)
6. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer (Check all applicable)
   [ ] Director                   [ ] 10% Owner
   [X] Officer (give title below) [ ] Other (specify below)
   GENERAL COUNSEL & CORP VP, SEC
7. Individual or Joint/Group Filing (Check Applicable Line)
   [X] Form filed by One Reporting Person
   [ ] Form filed by More than One Reporting Person



Table I   Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1)Title of Security                           2)Trans-    3.Trans- 4.Securities Acquired(A)      5)Amount of    6)  7)Nature of
                                              action      action   or Disposed of (D)            Securities         Indirect
                                              Date        Code                   A               Beneficially   D   Beneficial
                                              (Month/                            or              Owned at       or  Ownership
                                              Day/Year)   Code V   Amount        D  Price        End of Month   I
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                           
Common Stock                                  12/31/02    J (1)V   152           A  $9.8728                     D  Direct
Common Stock                                  03/31/03    J (1)V   537           A  $10.8290     36,330         D  Direct


Table II (PART 1)  Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned  (Columns 1 through 6)
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1)Title of Derivative          2)Conversion    3)Trans-       4)Trans-  5)Number of Derivative            6)Date Exercisable and
Security                       or Exercise     action         action    Securities Acquired (A)           Expiration Date
                               Price of        Date           Code      or Disposed of (D)
                               Derivative
                               Security                       Code  V   A                D                Exercisable  Expiration
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                  
Non-Qualified Stock Option     $13.3800        04/04/03       A         15,000                            (2)          04/04/10
(right to buy)


Table II (PART 2)  Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned  (Columns 1,3 and 7 through 11)
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1)Title of Derivative          3)Trans-  7)Title and Amount                           8)Price     9)Number of   10) 11)Nature of
Security                       action    of Underlying                                of Deri-    Derivative        Indirect
                               Date      Securities                                   vative      Securities    D   Beneficial
                                                                        Amount or     Security    Beneficially  or  Ownership
                                                                        Number of                 Owned at      I
                  -                      Title                          Shares                    End of Month
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                               
Non-Qualified Stock Option     04/04/03  Common Stock                   15,000                    15,000        D   Direct
(right to buy)


Explanation of Responses:

(1)
Shares acquired under the Exar Corporation Employee Stock Participation Plan.
(2)
Employee stock options granted pursuant to the Exar Corporation 2000 Equity Incentive Plan; the options vest 25%  per year on the an
niversary date of the grant.



SIGNATURE OF REPORTING PERSON
/S/ MELENDREZ, THOMAS R
DATE 04/04/03