Note 18 - Income Taxes (Details) - Components of Net Deferred Taxes (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 29, 2015	Mar. 30, 2014
Deferred tax assets:
Reserves and expenses not currently deductible	$ 10,328	$ 7,973
Net operating loss carryforwards	121,948	123,826
Tax credits	30,214	27,259
Losses on investments	1,032	1,832
Unrealized investment loss		80
Intangible assets	8,406	6,838
Deferred margin	3,293exar_DeferredTaxAssetDeferredMargin	3,968exar_DeferredTaxAssetDeferredMargin
Depreciation		642
Total deferred tax assets	175,221us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsGross	172,418us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsGross
Deferred tax liabilities:
Depreciation	(915)
Non-goodwill intangibles	(3,159)	(6,560)
Foreign earnings	(8,164)
Total deferred tax liabilities	(12,238)us-gaap_DeferredIncomeTaxLiabilities	(6,560)us-gaap_DeferredIncomeTaxLiabilities
Valuation allowance	(163,129)	(165,924)
Net deferred tax liabilities	$ (146)us-gaap_DeferredTaxLiabilities	$ (66)us-gaap_DeferredTaxLiabilities

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Amount before allocation of valuation allowances of deferred tax asset attributable to deductible temporary differences from unrealized losses on available-for-sale securities.

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