<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion>

<documentType>5</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-03-31</periodOfReport>
    <form3HoldingsReported>0</form3HoldingsReported>
    <form4TransactionsReported>1</form4TransactionsReported>
<issuer><issuerCik>0000030140</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>DREXLER TECHNOLOGY CORP</issuerName>
<issuerTradingSymbol>DRXR</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId><rptOwnerCik>0001199512</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>WALKER WALTER F</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
<reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2002-03-18</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>S</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionTimeliness><value>L</value></transactionTimeliness><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>500</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>21.06</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>1000</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>By Spouse</value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeSecurity><footnotes><footnote id="F1">17,250 shares are held directly by Walter F. Walker, and 1,000 shares are held indirectly by his spouse.  Pursuant to Rule 16a-1(a)(4), reporting person disclaims beneficial ownership of all securities held by his spouse.</footnote></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>Jerome Drexler for Walter F. Walker</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-05-12</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

