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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 TIXjY7y2VV+IWFMC5zXQ43zSJzPBXMSTXbIo7JLbuaT0jZJ9TC1GZdrZv9XM3D1d
 awBs6FJ3GZDN4CanVGLuYg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001186133-03-000009.txt : 20030909
<SEC-HEADER>0001186133-03-000009.hdr.sgml : 20030909
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030909183915
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001186133-03-000009
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	19910101
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030909

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ABBOTT SHAWN
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001186128

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-16641
		FILM NUMBER:		03888776

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O RAINBOW TECHNOLOGIES INC
		STREET 2:		50 TECHNOLOGY DRIVE
		CITY:			IRVINE
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			92618
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9494507350

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			RAINBOW TECHNOLOGIES INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000819706
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	COMPUTER PERIPHERAL EQUIPMENT, NEC [3577]
		IRS NUMBER:				953745398
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		50 TECHNOLOGY DRIVE
		CITY:			IRVINE
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			92718
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7144542100

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		50 TECHNOLOGY DRIVE
		CITY:			IRVINE
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			92718
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>

<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>1991-01-01</periodOfReport>


    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000819706</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>RAINBOW TECHNOLOGIES INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>RNBO</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001186128</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>ABBOTT SHAWN</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1></rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity></rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState></rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode></rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>1</isOther>
            <otherText>President, eSecurity Division</otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>

        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>2000 Stock Option Plan</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>8.68</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2003-09-05</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>50000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>8.68</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2004-09-02</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2013-09-02</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>50000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>92000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>

    </derivativeTable>



    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Shawn Abbott</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-09-09</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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