<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-07-08</periodOfReport>
    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001009395</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>DIGITAL VIDEO SYSTEMS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>DVID</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001030607</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>KONDAMOORI PRATAP KESAV</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>79431</value></transactionShares></transactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeSecurity><derivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Common Stock Purchase Warrants (right to buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>2.80</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>2004-01-07</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2006-07-07</value><footnoteId id="F2"/></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>71428</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeSecurity><footnotes><footnote id="F1">Warrants are exercisable beginning on the earlier of January 7, 2004 or the date on which the Issuer's stockholders approve the issuance of the Warrants.</footnote><footnote id="F2">Subject to earlier redemption, at the Issuer's option, if the Issuer's Common Stock closes at $3.50 or above for at least 10 conscutive trading days.</footnote></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>Pratap S. Kondamoori</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-07-18</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

