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

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2017-05-05</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000860731</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>TYLER TECHNOLOGIES INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>TYL</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001517290</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>LEINWEBER LARRY D</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>NEW WORLD SYSTEMS, INC</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>888 WEST BIG BEAVER, SUITE 600</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>TROY</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MI</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>48084</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2017-05-05</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>28240</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>165.9844</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1473196</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>As Trustee</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2017-05-05</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>13760</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>165.9844</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1459436</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>As Trustee</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2017-05-08</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>28240</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>165.0329</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F5"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1431196</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>As Trustee</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F6"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2017-05-08</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>13760</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>165.0329</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F7"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1417436</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>As Trustee</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F8"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Reflects the average sales price for the reported transactions($165.98439).  The shares were sold in multiple transactions at prices ranging from $164.00 to $167.18 inclusive.  The reporting person will provide the SEC staff, the Issuer, or any security holder of the Issuer, upon request for same, with the full information regarding the number of shares sold at each separate price within the range specified.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Includes shares owned indirectly by the reporting person as trustee for:  (a) the Larry D. Leinweber Trust (22,140 shares); and (b) the Leinweber Foundation (6,100 shares). The reporting person disclaims beneficial ownership of these securities except to the extent of his pecuniary interest therein.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Reflects the average sales price for the reported transactions ($165.98439).  The shares were sold in multiple transactions at prices ranging from $164.00 to $167.18 inclusive.  The reporting persons will provide the SEC staff, the Issuer, or any security holder of the Issuer, upon request for same, with the full information regarding the number of shares sold at each separate price within the range specified.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">Includes shares owned by the reporting person's wife, Claudia Babiarz, as trustee for:  (a) the Larry D. Leinweber Irrevocable Trust FBO Ashley Leinweber (1,945 shares); (b) the Leinweber Trust FBO Ashley Leinweber (735 shares); (c) the Larry D. Leinweber Irrevocable Trust FBO Danica Leinweber (8,400 shares); (d) the Larry D. Leinweber Irrevocable Trust FBO David Leinweber (1,945 shares); and (e) the Leinweber Trust FBO David Leinweber (735 shares).  The reporting person disclaims beneficial ownership of these securities except to the extent of his pecuniary interest therein.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F5">Reflects the average sales price for the reported transactions ($165.032942).  The shares were sold in multiple transactions at prices ranging from $164.46 to $166.01 inclusive.  The reporting person will provide the SEC staff, the Issuer, or any security holder of the Issuer, upon request for same, with the full information regarding the number of shares sold at each separate price within the range specified.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F6">Includes shares owned indirectly by the reporting person as trustee for:  (a) the Larry D. Leinweber Trust (22,140 shares); and (b) the Leinweber Foundation (6,100 shares).  The reporting person disclaims beneficial ownership of these securities except to the extent of his pecuniary interest therein.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F7">Reflects the average sales price for the reported transactions ($165.032942).  The shares were sold in multiple transactions at prices ranging from $164.46 to $166.01 inclusive.  The reporting person will provide the SEC staff, the Issuer, or any security holder of the Issuer, upon request for same, with the full information regarding the number of shares sold at each separate price within the range specified.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F8">Includes shares owned by the reporting person's wife, Claudia Babiarz, as trustee for:  (a) the Larry D. Leinweber Irrevocable Trust FBO Ashley Leinweber (1,945 shares); (b) the Leinweber Trust FBO Ashley Leinweber (735 shares); (c) the Larry D. Leinweber Irrevocable Trust FBO Danica Leinweber (8,400 shares); (d) the Larry D. Leinweber Irrevocable Trust FBO David Leinweber (1,945 shares); and (e) the Leinweber Trust FBO David Leinweber (735 shares).  The reporting person disclaims beneficial ownership of these securities except to the extent of his pecuniary interest therein.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Larry D. Leinweber</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2017-05-09</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
