CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	May 03, 2015	Apr. 27, 2014	Apr. 28, 2013
Operating activities
Net income (loss) attributable to Finisar Corporation	$ 11,887	$ 111,787	$ (5,454)
Adjust for net loss attributable to non-controlling interest	0	(250)	(2,611)
Consolidated net income (loss)	11,887	111,537	(8,065)
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation	82,699	62,013	52,804
Amortization	9,374	8,136	11,336
Stock-based compensation expense	46,613	39,955	33,594
Equity in earnings of equity method investment	(730)	(585)	0
Gain on sale or retirement of assets and asset disposal groups	(1,955)	(8,313)	(1,350)
Impairment of long-lived assets	5,767	0	20,643
Gain on fair value remeasurement of contingent consideration related to acquisition	0	0	(7,130)
Amortization of discount on 0.50% Convertible Senior Notes due 2033	9,153	3,151	0
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable	12,238	(74,238)	21,971
Inventories	(37,542)	(62,864)	19,362
Other assets	(17,098)	(33,436)	1,848
Accounts payable	12,024	33,965	3,015
Accrued compensation	(17,505)	4,580	2,390
Deferred revenue	(5,816)	5,505	(1,760)
Other liabilities	4,488	9,709	(368)
Net cash provided by operating activities	113,597	99,115	148,290
Investing activities
Additions to property, equipment and improvements	(149,193)	(130,191)	(90,622)
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment and asset disposal groups	2,477	1,483	2,698
Purchases of short-term investments	(462,935)	(209,922)	0
Maturities of short-term investments	380,276	0	0
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired	(2,728)	(21,155)	(21,525)
Proceeds from sale of minority investments	1,470	0	10,495
Purchase of intangible assets	0	0	(221)
Net cash used in investing activities	(230,633)	(359,785)	(99,175)
Financing activities
Proceeds from term loans	0	4,230	0
Repayments of term loans	(337)	(3,676)	(3,150)
Proceeds from issuance of 0.50% Convertible Senior Notes due 2033, net of issuance costs	0	255,000	0
Proceeds from issuance of shares under equity plans and employee stock purchase plan	11,715	19,141	8,567
Net cash provided by financing activities	11,378	274,695	5,417
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents	(105,658)	14,025	54,532
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year	303,101	289,076	234,544
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year	197,443	303,101	289,076
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information
Cash paid for interest	2,340	2,067	2,011
Cash paid for taxes	4,984	3,660	2,073
Supplemental disclosure of non-cash transactions
Issuance of common stock upon conversion of 5.0% Convertible Senior Notes due 2029	$ 40,015	$ 0	$ 0