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Note 14 - Stock-based Compensation (Details) (USD $)
 1 Months Ended 12 Months Ended 1 Months Ended 3 Months Ended 1 Months Ended 3 Months Ended 5 Months Ended 1 Months Ended
Jan. 31, 2015
Mar. 29, 2015
Mar. 30, 2014
Mar. 31, 2013
Apr. 30, 2012
Jan. 31, 2014
Jan. 31, 2012
Sep. 28, 2014
Mar. 31, 2012
Jun. 30, 2013
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Oct. 31, 2013
Apr. 01, 2012
Jun. 30, 2014
Sep. 18, 2014
Note 14 - Stock-based Compensation (Details) [Line Items]                                
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Outstanding, Number (in Shares)   7,609,622us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingNumber 7,213,848us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingNumber 6,212,333us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingNumber                   6,345,307us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingNumber    
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Number of Shares Authorized (in Shares)   4,500,000us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardNumberOfSharesAuthorized                            
Share Price (in Dollars per share)   $ 10.30us-gaap_SharePrice $ 11.71us-gaap_SharePrice $ 10.50us-gaap_SharePrice                        
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Grants in Period, Gross (in Shares)   2,624,778us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriodGross 2,482,650us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriodGross 2,540,010us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriodGross                        
Allocated Share-based Compensation Expense   $ 13,614,000us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense $ 8,852,000us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense $ 4,788,000us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense                        
Number of Executives Terminated 2exar_NumberOfExecutivesTerminated                              
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Fair Value Assumptions, Expected Dividend Rate   0.00%us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardFairValueAssumptionsExpectedDividendRate                            
6 Months After The Commencement [Member] | Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) [Member] | Chief Executive Officer [Member]                                
Note 14 - Stock-based Compensation (Details) [Line Items]                                
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Award Vesting Rights, Percentage         50.00%us-gaap_SharebasedCompensationArrangementBySharebasedPaymentAwardAwardVestingRightsPercentage
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_RestrictedStockUnitsRSUMember
/ us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis
= exar_SixMonthsAfterTheCommencementMember
/ us-gaap_TitleOfIndividualAxis
= us-gaap_ChiefExecutiveOfficerMember		                      
On The Last Day of FY 2013 [Member] | Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) [Member] | Chief Executive Officer [Member]                                
Note 14 - Stock-based Compensation (Details) [Line Items]                                
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Award Vesting Rights, Percentage         50.00%us-gaap_SharebasedCompensationArrangementBySharebasedPaymentAwardAwardVestingRightsPercentage
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_RestrictedStockUnitsRSUMember
/ us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis
= exar_OnTheLastDayOfFiscalYearTwoThousandThirteenMember
/ us-gaap_TitleOfIndividualAxis
= us-gaap_ChiefExecutiveOfficerMember		                      
Employee Stock Option [Member] | Chief Executive Officer [Member]                                
Note 14 - Stock-based Compensation (Details) [Line Items]                                
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Grants in Period, Gross (in Shares)           140,000us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriodGross
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember
/ us-gaap_TitleOfIndividualAxis
= us-gaap_ChiefExecutiveOfficerMember		 480,000us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriodGross
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember
/ us-gaap_TitleOfIndividualAxis
= us-gaap_ChiefExecutiveOfficerMember		                  
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award, Vesting, Number of Installments             4exar_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardVestingNumberOfInstallments
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember
/ us-gaap_TitleOfIndividualAxis
= us-gaap_ChiefExecutiveOfficerMember		                  
Allocated Share-based Compensation Expense   338,000us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember
/ us-gaap_TitleOfIndividualAxis
= us-gaap_ChiefExecutiveOfficerMember		 260,000us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember
/ us-gaap_TitleOfIndividualAxis
= us-gaap_ChiefExecutiveOfficerMember		 260,000us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember
/ us-gaap_TitleOfIndividualAxis
= us-gaap_ChiefExecutiveOfficerMember		                        
Performance-Based RSUs [Member] | 2014 Incentive Program [Member]                                
Note 14 - Stock-based Compensation (Details) [Line Items]                                
Allocated Share-based Compensation Expense               295,000us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= exar_PerformanceBasedRSUsMember
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= exar_TwentyFourteenIncentiveProgramMember		                
Share Based Compensation Expense Recovery   290,000exar_ShareBasedCompensationExpenseRecovery
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= exar_PerformanceBasedRSUsMember
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= exar_TwentyFourteenIncentiveProgramMember		                            
Performance-Based RSUs [Member] | Chief Executive Officer [Member]                                
Note 14 - Stock-based Compensation (Details) [Line Items]                                
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award, Vesting, Number of Installments                 3exar_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardVestingNumberOfInstallments
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= exar_PerformanceBasedRSUsMember
/ us-gaap_TitleOfIndividualAxis
= us-gaap_ChiefExecutiveOfficerMember		              
Allocated Share-based Compensation Expense   1,200,000us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= exar_PerformanceBasedRSUsMember
/ us-gaap_TitleOfIndividualAxis
= us-gaap_ChiefExecutiveOfficerMember		 700,000us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= exar_PerformanceBasedRSUsMember
/ us-gaap_TitleOfIndividualAxis
= us-gaap_ChiefExecutiveOfficerMember		 400,000us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= exar_PerformanceBasedRSUsMember
/ us-gaap_TitleOfIndividualAxis
= us-gaap_ChiefExecutiveOfficerMember		                        
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Grants in Period (in Shares)                 300,000us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsGrantsInPeriod
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= exar_PerformanceBasedRSUsMember
/ us-gaap_TitleOfIndividualAxis
= us-gaap_ChiefExecutiveOfficerMember		              
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Award Vesting Period                 3 years              
Performance-Based RSUs [Member] | Certain Executives [Member]                                
Note 14 - Stock-based Compensation (Details) [Line Items]                                
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award, Vesting, Number of Installments                   3exar_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardVestingNumberOfInstallments
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= exar_PerformanceBasedRSUsMember
/ us-gaap_TitleOfIndividualAxis
= exar_CertainExecutivesMember		            
Allocated Share-based Compensation Expense     331,000us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= exar_PerformanceBasedRSUsMember
/ us-gaap_TitleOfIndividualAxis
= exar_CertainExecutivesMember		                          
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Grants in Period (in Shares)                   50,000us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsGrantsInPeriod
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= exar_PerformanceBasedRSUsMember
/ us-gaap_TitleOfIndividualAxis
= exar_CertainExecutivesMember		            
Performance-Based RSUs [Member] | One of Two Terminated Executives [Member]                                
Note 14 - Stock-based Compensation (Details) [Line Items]                                
Share Based Compensation Expense Recovery   140,000exar_ShareBasedCompensationExpenseRecovery
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= exar_PerformanceBasedRSUsMember
/ us-gaap_TitleOfIndividualAxis
= exar_OneofTwoTerminatedExecutivesMember		                            
Performance-Based RSUs [Member] | Former Stretch Employees [Member]                                
Note 14 - Stock-based Compensation (Details) [Line Items]                                
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award, Vesting, Number of Installments           3exar_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardVestingNumberOfInstallments
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= exar_PerformanceBasedRSUsMember
/ us-gaap_TitleOfIndividualAxis
= exar_FormerStretchEmployeesMember		                    
Allocated Share-based Compensation Expense   0us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= exar_PerformanceBasedRSUsMember
/ us-gaap_TitleOfIndividualAxis
= exar_FormerStretchEmployeesMember		                            
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Grants in Period (in Shares)           82,500us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsGrantsInPeriod
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= exar_PerformanceBasedRSUsMember
/ us-gaap_TitleOfIndividualAxis
= exar_FormerStretchEmployeesMember		                    
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Award Vesting Period           3 years                    
Performance-Based RSUs [Member] | Former iML Employees [Member]                                
Note 14 - Stock-based Compensation (Details) [Line Items]                                
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award, Vesting, Number of Installments                     3exar_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardVestingNumberOfInstallments
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= exar_PerformanceBasedRSUsMember
/ us-gaap_TitleOfIndividualAxis
= exar_FormeriMLEmployeesMember		          
Allocated Share-based Compensation Expense   88,000us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= exar_PerformanceBasedRSUsMember
/ us-gaap_TitleOfIndividualAxis
= exar_FormeriMLEmployeesMember		                            
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Grants in Period (in Shares)                     88,448us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsGrantsInPeriod
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= exar_PerformanceBasedRSUsMember
/ us-gaap_TitleOfIndividualAxis
= exar_FormeriMLEmployeesMember		          
Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) [Member] | Chief Executive Officer [Member]                                
Note 14 - Stock-based Compensation (Details) [Line Items]                                
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award, Vesting, Number of Installments                       2exar_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardVestingNumberOfInstallments
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_RestrictedStockUnitsRSUMember
/ us-gaap_TitleOfIndividualAxis
= us-gaap_ChiefExecutiveOfficerMember		        
Allocated Share-based Compensation Expense       250,000us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_RestrictedStockUnitsRSUMember
/ us-gaap_TitleOfIndividualAxis
= us-gaap_ChiefExecutiveOfficerMember		                        
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Grants in Period (in Shares)         29,000us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsGrantsInPeriod
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_RestrictedStockUnitsRSUMember
/ us-gaap_TitleOfIndividualAxis
= us-gaap_ChiefExecutiveOfficerMember		             100,000us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsGrantsInPeriod
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_RestrictedStockUnitsRSUMember
/ us-gaap_TitleOfIndividualAxis
= us-gaap_ChiefExecutiveOfficerMember		        
Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) [Member] | Cadeka Employees [Member]                                
Note 14 - Stock-based Compensation (Details) [Line Items]                                
Allocated Share-based Compensation Expense   1,700,000us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_RestrictedStockUnitsRSUMember
/ us-gaap_TitleOfIndividualAxis
= exar_CadekaEmployeesMember		 1,200,000us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_RestrictedStockUnitsRSUMember
/ us-gaap_TitleOfIndividualAxis
= exar_CadekaEmployeesMember		                          
Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) [Member] | One of Two Terminated Executives [Member]                                
Note 14 - Stock-based Compensation (Details) [Line Items]                                
Stock Granted, Value, Share-based Compensation, Gross 479,000us-gaap_StockGrantedDuringPeriodValueSharebasedCompensationGross
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_RestrictedStockUnitsRSUMember
/ us-gaap_TitleOfIndividualAxis
= exar_OneofTwoTerminatedExecutivesMember		                              
Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) [Member] | Two Terminated Executives [Member]                                
Note 14 - Stock-based Compensation (Details) [Line Items]                                
Allocated Share-based Compensation Expense   1,519,000us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_RestrictedStockUnitsRSUMember
/ us-gaap_TitleOfIndividualAxis
= exar_TwoTerminatedExecutivesMember		                            
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Grants in Period (in Shares) 60,000us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsGrantsInPeriod
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_RestrictedStockUnitsRSUMember
/ us-gaap_TitleOfIndividualAxis
= exar_TwoTerminatedExecutivesMember		                              
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Award Vesting Period 12 months                              
Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) [Member]                                
Note 14 - Stock-based Compensation (Details) [Line Items]                                
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Grants in Period (in Shares)   509,370us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsGrantsInPeriod
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_RestrictedStockUnitsRSUMember		 828,995us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsGrantsInPeriod
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_RestrictedStockUnitsRSUMember		 331,894us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsGrantsInPeriod
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_RestrictedStockUnitsRSUMember		                        
October 2013 PRSUs [Member] | Certain Executives [Member] | Share-based Compensation Award, Tranche One [Member]                                
Note 14 - Stock-based Compensation (Details) [Line Items]                                
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award, Vesting, Number of Installments                         3exar_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardVestingNumberOfInstallments
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= exar_OctoberTwoThousandThirteenPRSUsMember
/ us-gaap_TitleOfIndividualAxis
= exar_CertainExecutivesMember
/ us-gaap_VestingAxis
= us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationAwardTrancheOneMember		      
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Award Vesting Period                         3 years      
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Award Vesting Rights, Percentage                         50.00%us-gaap_SharebasedCompensationArrangementBySharebasedPaymentAwardAwardVestingRightsPercentage
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= exar_OctoberTwoThousandThirteenPRSUsMember
/ us-gaap_TitleOfIndividualAxis
= exar_CertainExecutivesMember
/ us-gaap_VestingAxis
= us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationAwardTrancheOneMember		      
October 2013 PRSUs [Member] | Certain Executives [Member] | Share-based Compensation Award, Tranche Two [Member]                                
Note 14 - Stock-based Compensation (Details) [Line Items]                                
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award, Vesting, Number of Installments                         3exar_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardVestingNumberOfInstallments
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= exar_OctoberTwoThousandThirteenPRSUsMember
/ us-gaap_TitleOfIndividualAxis
= exar_CertainExecutivesMember
/ us-gaap_VestingAxis
= us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationAwardTrancheTwoMember		      
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Award Vesting Period                         3 years      
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Award Vesting Rights, Percentage                         50.00%us-gaap_SharebasedCompensationArrangementBySharebasedPaymentAwardAwardVestingRightsPercentage
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= exar_OctoberTwoThousandThirteenPRSUsMember
/ us-gaap_TitleOfIndividualAxis
= exar_CertainExecutivesMember
/ us-gaap_VestingAxis
= us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationAwardTrancheTwoMember		      
October 2013 PRSUs [Member] | Certain Executives [Member]                                
Note 14 - Stock-based Compensation (Details) [Line Items]                                
Allocated Share-based Compensation Expense   247,000us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= exar_OctoberTwoThousandThirteenPRSUsMember
/ us-gaap_TitleOfIndividualAxis
= exar_CertainExecutivesMember		                            
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Grants in Period (in Shares)                         70,000us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsGrantsInPeriod
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= exar_OctoberTwoThousandThirteenPRSUsMember
/ us-gaap_TitleOfIndividualAxis
= exar_CertainExecutivesMember		      
Modified PRSUs [Member] | Chief Executive Officer [Member]                                
Note 14 - Stock-based Compensation (Details) [Line Items]                                
Allocated Share-based Compensation Expense   10,000us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= exar_ModifiedPRSUsMember
/ us-gaap_TitleOfIndividualAxis
= us-gaap_ChiefExecutiveOfficerMember		                            
Employee Stock Participation Plan [Member]                                
Note 14 - Stock-based Compensation (Details) [Line Items]                                
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Purchase Price of Common Stock, Percent   95.00%us-gaap_SharebasedCompensationArrangementBySharebasedPaymentAwardPurchasePriceOfCommonStockPercent
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= exar_EmployeeStockParticipationPlanMember		                            
2006 Plan and Sipex 2006 Plan [Member]                                
Note 14 - Stock-based Compensation (Details) [Line Items]                                
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Outstanding, Number (in Shares)                             6,555,492us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingNumber
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= exar_The2006PlanAndSipex2006PlanMember		  
2006 Plan [Member]                                
Note 14 - Stock-based Compensation (Details) [Line Items]                                
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Number of Shares Authorized (in Shares)                             669,008us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardNumberOfSharesAuthorized
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= exar_TwoThousandSixPlanMember		  
2014 Plan [Member]                                
Note 14 - Stock-based Compensation (Details) [Line Items]                                
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Number of Shares Authorized (in Shares)                               5,170,000us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardNumberOfSharesAuthorized
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= exar_The2014PlanMember
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Number of Shares Per Award (in Shares)   2exar_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardNumberOfSharesPerAward
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= exar_The2014PlanMember		                            
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Number of Shares Available for Grant (in Shares)   4,900,000us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardNumberOfSharesAvailableForGrant
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= exar_The2014PlanMember		                            
2013 Incentive Program [Member]                                
Note 14 - Stock-based Compensation (Details) [Line Items]                                
Allocated Share-based Compensation Expense       1,200,000us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= exar_TwentyThirteenIncentiveProgramMember		                        
2015 Incentive Program [Member]                                
Note 14 - Stock-based Compensation (Details) [Line Items]                                
Allocated Share-based Compensation Expense   $ 1,965,000us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= exar_TwentyFifteenIncentiveProgramMember		                            
Chief Executive Officer [Member]                                
Note 14 - Stock-based Compensation (Details) [Line Items]                                
Number of RSUs Modified Into PRSUs (in Shares)                       50,000exar_NumberOfRSUsModifiedIntoPRSUs
/ us-gaap_TitleOfIndividualAxis
= us-gaap_ChiefExecutiveOfficerMember		        
Two Terminated Executives [Member]                                
Note 14 - Stock-based Compensation (Details) [Line Items]                                
Sharebased Compensation Arrangement by Share Based Payment Award Additional Vesing Period For Outstanding Stock Awards 12 months                              
Sharebased Compensation Arrangement by Share Based Payment Award Additional Exercise Period For Vested Stock Awards 12 months