Amount of assets sold resulting from the disposal of a discontinued operation.

No definition available.

Name:	exar_DiscontinuedOperationAssetsSold
Namespace Prefix:	exar_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of liabilities transferred resulting from the disposal of a discontinued operation.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	exar_DiscontinuedOperationLiabilitiesTransferred
Namespace Prefix:	exar_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The amount of a purchase price consideration held in escrow in connection to the sale of discontinued operations.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	exar_DiscontinuedOperationPurchasePriceConsiderationHeldInEscrow
Namespace Prefix:	exar_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount after tax of gain (loss) not previously recognized resulting from the disposal of a discontinued operation.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 205
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=64827811&loc=d3e1361-107760

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 205
-SubTopic 20
-Section 45
-Paragraph 3B
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=65878427&loc=SL51721525-107759

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 205
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 5C
-Subparagraph (b)(2)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=64827811&loc=SL51721675-107760

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 205
-SubTopic 20
-Section 45
-Paragraph 3
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=65878427&loc=d3e957-107759

+ Details

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

- Definition

Amount of consideration received or receivable for the disposal of assets and liabilities, including discontinued operation.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DisposalGroupIncludingDiscontinuedOperationConsideration
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsAxis=exar_IMLMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis=us-gaap_OtherNoncurrentAssetsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Note 3 - Discontinued Operations (Details Textual) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Nov. 09, 2016	Jan. 01, 2017	Dec. 27, 2015	Jan. 01, 2017	Dec. 27, 2015
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Consideration	$ 127,900
IML [Member]
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Consideration	127,933
Discontinued Operation, Gain (Loss) on Disposal of Discontinued Operation, Net of Tax	45,382	$ 45,382		$ 45,382
Discontinued Operation, Purchase Price Consideration Held in Escrow	5,000
Discontinued Operation, Assets Sold	90,394
Discontinued Operation, Liabilities Transferred	2,843
IML [Member] \| Other Noncurrent Assets [Member]
Discontinued Operation, Purchase Price Consideration Held in Escrow	$ 5,000