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

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2017-08-01</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>THE ASCENT GROUP</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>78 WATSON STREET</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>DETROIT</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MI</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>48201</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>2017-08-01</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>28957</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>171.8218</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1259364</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>as Trustee</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2017-08-01</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>7043</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>171.8218</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F5"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1252321</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>as Trustee</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F6"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The sales reported in this Form 4 were effected pursuant to Rule 10b5-1 trading plan adopted by the reporting person on March 10, 2017.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Reflects the average sales price for the reported transaction ($171.821813). The shares were sold in multiple transactions at prices ranging from $171.03 to $172.64 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="F3">Includes shares owned indirectly by the reporting person as trustee for: (a) the Larry D. Leinweber Trust (22,703 shares); and (b) the Leinweber Foundation (6,254 shares). The reporting person disclaims beneficial ownership of these securities except to the extent of his pecuniary interest therein.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">The sales reported in this Form 4 were effected pursuant to Rule 10b5-1 trading plan adopted by the reporting person on March 10, 2017.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F5">Reflects the average sales price for the reported transaction ($171.821813). The shares were sold in multiple transactions at the prices ranging from $171.03 to $172.64 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 by the reporting person's wife, Claudia Babiarz, as trustee for: (a) the Larry D. Leinweber Irrevocable Trust FBO Ashley Leinweber (2,004 shares); (b) the Leinweber Trust FBO Ashley Leinweber (759 shares); (c) the Larry D. Leinweber Irrevocable Trust FBO Danica Treadwell (1,517 shares); (d) the Larry D. Leinweber Irrevocable Trust FBO David Leinweber (2,004 shares); and (e) the Leinweber Trust FBO David Leinweber (759 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>2017-08-02</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
