Note 2 - Accounting Policies (Details) - Deferred Income balance (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 29, 2015	Mar. 30, 2014
Deferred Income balance [Abstract]
Deferred revenue at published list price	$ 15,029us-gaap_DeferredRevenue	$ 15,871us-gaap_DeferredRevenue
Deferred cost of revenue	(4,685)	(4,757)
Deferred income	$ 10,344exar_DeferredIncome	$ 11,114exar_DeferredIncome

Amount of deferred revenue as of balance sheet date. Deferred revenue represents collections of cash or other assets related to a revenue producing activity for which revenue has not yet been recognized. Generally, an entity records deferred revenue when it receives consideration from a customer before achieving certain criteria that must be met for revenue to be recognized in conformity with GAAP.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Staff Accounting Bulletin (SAB)

-Number Topic 13

-Section A

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 605

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SAB TOPIC 13.A.4(a).Q1 Response)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27012821&loc=d3e214044-122780

Name:	us-gaap_DeferredRevenue
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant