-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 OSY7rzevm696woC/MPy9Q+KHJInMSg3zR56On3uCbi5/I3J4qCz3+vJKEwFWg+vM
 /jpc52NeZ8tnXWapkCd4ag==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000753568-04-000049.txt : 20040329
<SEC-HEADER>0000753568-04-000049.hdr.sgml : 20040329
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040329185435
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000753568-04-000049
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040329
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040329

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			GHADERI MIR B
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001226681

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-14225
		FILM NUMBER:		04697699

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		48720 KATO ROAD
		CITY:			FREMONT
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94538

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		48720 KATO ROAD
		CITY:			FREMONT
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94538

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			EXAR CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000753568
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SEMICONDUCTORS & RELATED DEVICES [3674]
		IRS NUMBER:				941741481
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0331

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		48720 KATO ROAD
		STREET 2:		48720 KATO ROAD
		CITY:			FREMONT
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94538
		BUSINESS PHONE:		5106687000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		48720 KATO RD
		CITY:			FREMONT
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94538-1167
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgardoc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-03-29</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000753568</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>EXAR CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>EXAR</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001226681</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>GHADERI MIR B</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>48720 KATO ROAD</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>FREMONT</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>94538</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>VICE PRESIDENT, NETWORK AND</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Non-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>54.75</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-03-29</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>D</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>20000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0.05</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2001-09-07</value>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2007-09-07</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>20000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The option was cancelled by mutual agreement of the reporting person and Exar Corporation.  The reporting person received $1,000 as consideration for the cancellation.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Employee stock options granted pursuant to the 1997 Equity Incentive Plan; the options vest 25% per year on the anniversary date of the grant, 9/7/00.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Mir B. Ghaderi</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-03-29</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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