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

    <schemaVersion>X0305</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2012-06-08</periodOfReport>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001194537</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>RAWLS JERRY S</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1389 MOFFETT PARK DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SUNNYVALE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>94089-1134</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <officerTitle>Exec  Chairman of the Board</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2012-06-08</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate>
                <value>2012-06-08</value>
            </deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>F</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1032.0000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>14.8800</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>645698.0000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>346648.6250</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>Shares Held By Ltd Partnership</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable></derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">On June 8, 2012, the Reporting Person vested in 2,812 restricted stock units (&quot;RSUs&quot;) and as a result acquired 2,812 shares of common stock of the Issuer pursuant to the Reporting Person's December 8, 2009 grant of RSUs. This Form 4 reports 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. No shares were sold by the Reporting Person. 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>2012-06-12</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
