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

    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-07-24</periodOfReport>
    <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><derivativeTable><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>4.44</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-07-24</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>100000</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>4.44</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>2004-07-24</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2013-07-24</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>100000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>100000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeTransaction></derivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">25% of the total number of shares granted shall vest on the one-year anniversary of the grant date, July 24, 2003, with the remainder to vest ratably on a monthly basis for the remaining 36 months.</footnote></footnotes><remarks/><ownerSignature><signatureName>Andy Sherman</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-07-24</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

