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

    <schemaVersion>X0203</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2010-01-22</periodOfReport>

    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001140486</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ATHEROS COMMUNICATIONS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>ATHR</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001017379</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>HARRIS CHARLES E</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O ATHEROS COMMUNICATIONS, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>5480 GREAT AMERICA PARKWAY</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SANTA CLARA</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>95054</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>164935</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Employee Stock Options (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>38.30</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2009-12-15</value>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2017-07-26</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>20563</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Employee Stock Options (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>8.41</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2009-12-15</value>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2019-02-26</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>31225</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Received in connection with the merger of Intellon Corporation (&quot;Intellon&quot;) into the Issuer (the &quot;Merger&quot;) on December 15, 2009, in exchange for (a) 1,042,806 shares of Intellon common stock, which converted into common stock of the Issuer at an exchange ratio of 0.134412; (b) 32,830 shares of Intellon common stock, which converted into common stock of the Issuer at an exchange ratio of 0.145039; and (c) 74,940 restricted stock units of Intellon, which converted into restricted stock units of the Issuer at an exchange ratio of 0.267008 and which vested in full immediately upon the Merger.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Received in connection with the Merger on December 15, 2009, in exchange for employee stock options to acquire (a) 82,320 shares of Intellon common stock at an exercise price of $9.5664 per share; and (b) 125,000 shares of Intellon common stock at an exercise price of $2.10 per share.  The exchange ratio was 0.2498.  The options vested in full immediately upon the Merger.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Bruce P. Johnson, Attorney-in-fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-01-25</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
