Discount rate for acquired intangible assets.

No definition available.

Name:	exar_AcquiredIntangibleAssetsDiscountRate
Namespace Prefix:	exar_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The element that represents IPR&D that was reclassed to existing technology during the period.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	exar_IPRDReclassifiedToExistingTechnology
Namespace Prefix:	exar_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	exar_Note9GoodwillandIntangibleAssetsDetailsLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	exar_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents number of abandoned in-process research and development projects.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	exar_NumberOfAbandonedInProcessResearchAndDevelopmentProjects
Namespace Prefix:	exar_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Useful life of finite-lived intangible assets, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetUsefulLife
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of gain (loss) on sale or disposal of intangible assets.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 28

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=56944662&loc=d3e3602-108585

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 225

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.7,9)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26872669&loc=d3e20235-122688

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_GainLossOnDispositionOfIntangibleAssets
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of increase in asset representing future economic benefits arising from other assets acquired in a business combination that are not individually identified and separately recognized resulting from a business combination.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 350

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (a)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35741047&loc=d3e13816-109267

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_GoodwillAcquiredDuringPeriod
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Total loss recognized during the period from the impairment of goodwill plus the loss recognized in the period resulting from the impairment of the carrying amount of intangible assets, other than goodwill.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_GoodwillAndIntangibleAssetImpairment
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The amount of impairment loss recognized in the period resulting from the write-down of the carrying amount of an intangible asset (excluding goodwill) to fair value.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 28

-Subparagraph (b)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=56944662&loc=d3e3602-108585

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 350

-SubTopic 30

-Section 50

-Paragraph 3

-Subparagraph (b)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26713463&loc=d3e16373-109275

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ImpairmentOfIntangibleAssetsExcludingGoodwill
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Number of operating segments. An operating segment is a component of an enterprise: (a) that engages in business activities from which it may earn revenues and incur expenses (including revenues and expenses relating to transactions with other components of the same enterprise), (b) whose operating results are regularly reviewed by the enterprise's chief operating decision maker to make decisions about resources to be allocated to the segment and assess its performance, and (c) for which discrete financial information is available. An operating segment may engage in business activities for which it has yet to earn revenues, for example, start-up operations may be operating segments before earning revenues.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_NumberOfOperatingSegments
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The cash inflow from disposal of asset without physical form usually arising from contractual or other legal rights, excluding goodwill.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Glossary Investing Activities

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6516133

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 12

-Subparagraph (c)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=56944662&loc=d3e3179-108585

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ProceedsFromSaleOfIntangibleAssets
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis=exar_CadekaMicrocircuitsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis=exar_DataCompressionMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis=exar_HighPerformanceAnalogMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis=exar_IntegratedMemoryLogicLimitedMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis=exar_StretchIncMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis=us-gaap_InProcessResearchAndDevelopmentMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis=us-gaap_PatentsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RangeAxis=us-gaap_MaximumMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RangeAxis=us-gaap_MinimumMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Note 9 - Goodwill and Intangible Assets (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended			12 Months Ended			0 Months Ended	4 Months Ended	0 Months Ended	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 29, 2015	Dec. 28, 2014	Sep. 28, 2014	Mar. 29, 2015	Mar. 30, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013	Jun. 03, 2014	Jul. 05, 2013	Jan. 14, 2014	Sep. 30, 2012
Note 9 - Goodwill and Intangible Assets (Details) [Line Items]
Number of Operating Segments				1us-gaap_NumberOfOperatingSegments
Goodwill and Intangible Asset Impairment				$ 0	$ 0	$ 0
IPR&D Reclassified to Existing Technology		1,200,000		1,200,000
Number of Abandoned IPR&D Projects	1			1
Impairment of Intangible Assets (Excluding Goodwill)			12,300,000		1,600,000	0
Acquired Intangible Assets Discount Rate			21.00%
Gain (Loss) on Disposition of Intangible Assets						223,000
Minimum [Member] \| Stretch, Inc. [Member]
Note 9 - Goodwill and Intangible Assets (Details) [Line Items]
Acquired Intangible Assets Discount Rate									17.00%
Minimum [Member] \| Existing Technology [Member]
Note 9 - Goodwill and Intangible Assets (Details) [Line Items]
Finite-Lived Intangible Asset, Useful Life				2 years
Minimum [Member] \| Customer Relationships [Member]
Note 9 - Goodwill and Intangible Assets (Details) [Line Items]
Finite-Lived Intangible Asset, Useful Life				5 years
Minimum [Member] \| Distribution Rights [Member]
Note 9 - Goodwill and Intangible Assets (Details) [Line Items]
Finite-Lived Intangible Asset, Useful Life				6 years
Minimum [Member] \| Patented Technology [Member]
Note 9 - Goodwill and Intangible Assets (Details) [Line Items]
Finite-Lived Intangible Asset, Useful Life				5 years
Minimum [Member] \| Trade Names [Member]
Note 9 - Goodwill and Intangible Assets (Details) [Line Items]
Finite-Lived Intangible Asset, Useful Life				3 years
Maximum [Member] \| Stretch, Inc. [Member]
Note 9 - Goodwill and Intangible Assets (Details) [Line Items]
Acquired Intangible Assets Discount Rate									21.00%
Maximum [Member] \| Existing Technology [Member]
Note 9 - Goodwill and Intangible Assets (Details) [Line Items]
Finite-Lived Intangible Asset, Useful Life				9 years
Maximum [Member] \| Customer Relationships [Member]
Note 9 - Goodwill and Intangible Assets (Details) [Line Items]
Finite-Lived Intangible Asset, Useful Life				7 years
Maximum [Member] \| Distribution Rights [Member]
Note 9 - Goodwill and Intangible Assets (Details) [Line Items]
Finite-Lived Intangible Asset, Useful Life				7 years
Maximum [Member] \| Patented Technology [Member]
Note 9 - Goodwill and Intangible Assets (Details) [Line Items]
Finite-Lived Intangible Asset, Useful Life				6 years
Maximum [Member] \| Trade Names [Member]
Note 9 - Goodwill and Intangible Assets (Details) [Line Items]
Finite-Lived Intangible Asset, Useful Life				6 years
Integrated Memory Logic Limited [Member]
Note 9 - Goodwill and Intangible Assets (Details) [Line Items]
Goodwill, Acquired During Period				14,500,000			14,500,000
Acquired Intangible Assets Discount Rate							16.90%
Cadeka Microcircuits [Member]
Note 9 - Goodwill and Intangible Assets (Details) [Line Items]
Goodwill, Acquired During Period					19,400,000			19,400,000
Stretch, Inc. [Member]
Note 9 - Goodwill and Intangible Assets (Details) [Line Items]
Goodwill, Acquired During Period					700,000				700,000
High-Performance Analog [Member]
Note 9 - Goodwill and Intangible Assets (Details) [Line Items]
Impairment of Intangible Assets (Excluding Goodwill)			7,500,000
Data Compression [Member]
Note 9 - Goodwill and Intangible Assets (Details) [Line Items]
Impairment of Intangible Assets (Excluding Goodwill)			4,800,000
In Process Research and Development [Member]
Note 9 - Goodwill and Intangible Assets (Details) [Line Items]
Impairment of Intangible Assets (Excluding Goodwill)	500,000			500,000
Patents [Member]
Note 9 - Goodwill and Intangible Assets (Details) [Line Items]
Proceeds from Sale of Intangible Assets										500,000
Gain (Loss) on Disposition of Intangible Assets										$ 223,000