Document and Entity Information	3 Months Ended
	Jul. 01, 2012	Aug. 06, 2012
Document and Entity Information [Abstract]
Entity Registrant Name	EXAR CORP
Entity Central Index Key	0000753568
Document Type	10-Q
Document Period End Date	Jul. 01, 2012
Amendment Flag	false
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2013
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q1
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--03-31
Entity Filer Category	Accelerated Filer
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		45,710,434