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

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2013-06-25</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>1</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001098277</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>WEBSENSE INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>WBSN</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001222865</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>SUTTON GARY</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>10240 SORRENTO VALLEY ROAD</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SAN DIEGO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>92121</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
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            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

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        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
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            <securityTitle>
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                <transactionShares>
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                    <value>D</value>
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            <expirationDate>
                <value>2019-05-31</value>
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                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
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                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
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        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
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                <value></value>
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                    <value>11000</value>
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                    <value>0.02</value>
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                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
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            <expirationDate>
                <value>2020-06-12</value>
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                    <value>Common Stock</value>
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                    <value>11000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
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                    <value>0</value>
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    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Per the terms of the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of May 19, 2013, by and among Tomahawk Acquisition, LLC; Tomahawk Merger Sub, Inc. and Websense, Inc. (the &quot;Merger Agreement&quot;) and the Offer (as defined in the Merger Agreement), each share of Websense common stock was validly tendered for $24.75 per share in cash.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Per the terms of the Merger Agreement, each restricted stock unit granted that was outstanding as of the Acceptance Time (as defined in the Merger Agreement), was cancelled and converted into the right to receive cash in amount equal to $24.75 per share.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Per the terms of the Merger Agreement, each stock option that was outstanding and unexercised as of the Acceptance Time, whether or not vested, was cancelled and converted into the right to receive cash in amount equal to (i) the total number of shares subject to each such option immediately prior to the Acceleration Time (without regard to vesting) multiplied by (ii) the excess, if any, of (x) $24.75 over (y) the exercise price payable per share under each such stock option.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Michael A. Newman, Attorney-in-fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2013-06-27</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
