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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 Rpcb/i52VQpMRzEg2AM3TFLZu4zo6E2EAeddyqJB2PCBl19aEo9lmJx21uTw7ln0
 ifzVPfr3HQKuamcGPzwOQA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001289430-10-000118.txt : 20100810
<SEC-HEADER>0001289430-10-000118.hdr.sgml : 20100810
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20100810200828
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001289430-10-000118
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20100809
FILED AS OF DATE:		20100810
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20100810

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			TACHNER ADAM H
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001277629

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-50534
		FILM NUMBER:		101006230

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ATHEROS COMMUNICATIONS INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001140486
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SEMICONDUCTORS & RELATED DEVICES [3674]
		IRS NUMBER:				770485570
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		5480 GREAT AMERICA PARKWAY
		CITY:			SANTA CLARA
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			95054
		BUSINESS PHONE:		408-773-5200

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		5480 GREAT AMERICA PARKWAY
		CITY:			SANTA CLARA
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			95054
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2010-08-09</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001140486</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ATHEROS COMMUNICATIONS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>ATHR</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001277629</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>TACHNER ADAM H</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O ATHEROS COMMUNICATIONS, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>5480 GREAT AMERICA PARKWAY</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SANTA CLARA,</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>95054</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>VP &amp; General Counsel</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2010-08-09</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1094</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>26.619</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>29750</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The sales reported in this Form 4 were effected pursuant to a Rule 10b5-1 trading plan.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Represents the weighted average sales price for a number of sale transactions effected at prices ranging from $26.27 to $26.96.  The Reporting Person has provided to the issuer, and undertakes to provide upon request by the SEC staff, or any security holder of the issuer, information regarding the number of shares sold at each separate price within the range.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Bruce P. Johnson, Attorney-in-fct</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-08-10</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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