-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 M+5y4cIolfhiN0jsguh7TW8PYcxd2uG31vFl8gwOeM1mGDcBVwhJvv1uZ28gSxcY
 ncXYnmbL8wBWL8W/2QNRvQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001262321-08-000003.txt : 20080826
<SEC-HEADER>0001262321-08-000003.hdr.sgml : 20080826
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20080826183149
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001262321-08-000003
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20080822
FILED AS OF DATE:		20080826
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20080826

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MAY HERBERT
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001262321

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-28540
		FILM NUMBER:		081040267

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		650-232-2400

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O VERSANT CORP
		STREET 2:		255 SHORELINE DRIVE
		CITY:			REDWOOD CITY
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94065

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			VERSANT CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000865917
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SERVICES-PREPACKAGED SOFTWARE [7372]
		IRS NUMBER:				943079392
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			CA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1031

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		255 SHORELINE
		STREET 2:		SUITE 450
		CITY:			REDWOOD CITY
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94065
		BUSINESS PHONE:		650-232-2400

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		255 SHORELINE
		STREET 2:		SUITE 450
		CITY:			REDWOOD CITY
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94065

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	VERSANT OBJECT TECHNOLOGY CORP
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19960428
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2008-08-22</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000865917</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>VERSANT CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>VSNT</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001262321</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>MAY HERBERT</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O VERSANT CORP</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>255 SHORELINE DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>REDWOOD CITY</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>94065</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Non-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>30.5</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-08-22</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>4000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2008-08-22</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2018-08-22</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>4000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>4000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Option is exercisable immediately, subject to repurchase, and vests as to 50% upon each of the first two successive anniversaries of the grant date.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Sammie Buckley (by power of attorney)</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-08-26</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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