<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-07-24</periodOfReport>
    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001089613</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>E PIPHANY INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>EPNY</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001256708</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>SHERMAN MARK ANDREW</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O E.PIPHANY, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>1900 S. NORFOLK ST., STE. 310</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SAN MATEO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>94403</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>0</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>SVP, General Counsel &amp; Secty.</officerTitle></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>15809</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding></nonDerivativeTable><derivativeTable><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Stock Option (right to buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>1.96</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>2000-05-31</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2010-01-12</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>21406</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Stock Option (right to buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>34.50</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>2001-07-24</value><footnoteId id="F2"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2011-01-24</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>8000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Stock Option (right to buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>9.08</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>2002-04-30</value><footnoteId id="F3"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2011-04-30</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>30000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Stock Option (right to buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>14.10</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>2002-05-29</value><footnoteId id="F4"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2011-05-29</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>20000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Stock Option (right to buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>7.05</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>2001-12-20</value><footnoteId id="F5"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2011-11-20</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>35000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding></derivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">These shares vest monthly on a ratable basis through May 31, 2004. These shares were part of an original grant of 57,338 shares granted on January 12, 2000, which were accelerated to begin vesting on May 31, 2000 on a monthly basis for the following four years.</footnote><footnote id="F2">25% of the total number of shares granted shall vest every six months for a period of two years.</footnote><footnote id="F3">25% of the total number of shares granted shall vest on the one-year anniversary of the grant date, April 30, 2001, with the remainder vesting ratably on a monthly basis for the remaining 36 months.</footnote><footnote id="F4">25% of the total number of shares granted shall vest on the one-year anniversary of the grant date, May 29, 2001, with the remainder vesting ratably on a monthly basis for the remaining 36 months.</footnote><footnote id="F5">These shares shall vest on a monthly basis from the grant date, November 20, 2001, for a period of two years.</footnote></footnotes><remarks/><ownerSignature><signatureName>Andy Sherman</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-07-24</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

