Ownership Submission
FORM 3
 UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

INITIAL STATEMENT OF BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES

Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Section 17(a) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940
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(Print or Type Responses)
1. Name and Address of Reporting Person *
  NELSON MARK JON
 2. Date of Event Requiring Statement (Month/Day/Year)
08/01/2012		 3. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
ALTERA CORP [ALTR]
(Last)
(First)
(Middle)
101 INNOVATION DRIVE		 4. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)
_____ Director _____ 10% Owner
__X__ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below)
Sr VP, Worldwide Sales
 5. If Amendment, Date Original Filed(Month/Day/Year)
(Street)

SAN JOSE, CA 95134		 6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing(Check Applicable Line)
_X_ Form filed by One Reporting Person
___ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person
(City)
(State)
(Zip)
Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned
1.Title of Security
(Instr. 4)		 2. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned
(Instr. 4)		 3. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 5)		 4. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 5)
Common Stock 7,122
D
 

Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly. SEC 1473 (7-02)
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Table II - Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned (e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivative Security
(Instr. 4)		 2. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date
(Month/Day/Year)		 3. Title and Amount of Securities Underlying Derivative Security
(Instr. 4)		 4. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security 5. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 5)		 6. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 5)
Date Exercisable Expiration Date Title Amount or Number of Shares
Non-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)   (1)   (2) Common Stock 11,155 $ 33.31 (3) D  
Non-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)   (4)   (2) Common Stock 11,171 $ 35.21 (3) D  
Restricted Stock Unit (RSU)   (5)   (2) Common Stock 39,720 $ (6) D  

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address Relationships
Director 10% Owner Officer Other
NELSON MARK JON
101 INNOVATION DRIVE
SAN JOSE, CA 95134		       Sr VP, Worldwide Sales  

Signatures

MARK JON NELSON 08/02/2012
**Signature of Reporting Person Date

Explanation of Responses:

* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 5(b)(v).
** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations. See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
(1) Subject to the Reporting Person's continuing employment and the provisions in the Altera's standard form of stock option agreement, the options shall commence vesting on May 14, 2013 at a rate of 25% annually.
(2) The grant shall expire ten years from the date of grant.
(3) The per share exercise price for the shares to be issued pursuant to exercise of an option shall be no less than 100% of the fair market value per share on the date of grant.
(4) Subject to the Reporting Person's continuing employment and the provisions in the Altera's standard form of stock option agreement, the options shall commence vesting on July 31, 2013 at a rate of 25% annually.
(5) Subject to the Reporting Person's continuing employment and the provisions in the Altera's standard form of RSU award agreement, the shares shall vest at a rate of 25% annually. Shares will be delivered to the reporting person on such vest date.
(6) Each Restricted Stock Unit ("RSU") represents a contingent right to receive at settlement one share of Altera common stock at no cost.

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