<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2010-09-01</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001094739</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>FINISAR CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>FNSR</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001444728</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Swanson Todd</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1389 MOFFETT PARK DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SUNNYVALE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>94089</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Sr VP Sales &amp; Marketing</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2010-09-01</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate>
                <value>2010-09-01</value>
            </deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>F</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1376</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>13.27</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>54067</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">On September 01, 2010 the Reporting Person vested in 3,750 restricted stock units (&quot;RSUs&quot;) and as a result acquired 3,750 shares of common stock of the Issuer pursuant to the Reporting Person's December 8, 2009 grant of RSUs. This Form 4 reports the disposition of shares withheld by the Issuer pursuant to the RSUs' grant agreement in order to satisfy the Reporting Person's withholding obligations for various taxes due upon the vesting of the RSUs. The Issuer will pay the taxes on behalf of the Reporting Person.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Girija Karumanchi as Attorney-in-fact for</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-09-03</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
