# Particle lifespan

**URL:** <https://forum.kirupa.com/t/particle-lifespan/276470>\
**Category:** flash\
**Created:** [November 28, 2008, 1:14am UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/particle-lifespan/276470 "2008-11-28T01:14:16Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![fatratstew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/d9b06d/32.png) [@fatratstew](https://forum.kirupa.com/u/fatratstew)\
**Post date:** [November 28, 2008, 1:14am UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/particle-lifespan/276470/1 "2008-11-28T01:14:16Z")

</div>

This is driving me nuts:  
(im new to actionscript btw)  
I have created the particle emitter below, but the particles last forever.  
How can I remove each particle after it has existed a certain amount of time? (eg. 3secs)

```auto

var particleArray:Array = new Array();
    var maxParticles:Number = 10;
    
    for (var i:int = 0;i < 20;i++) {
    addParticle();
    }
    
    function addParticle() {
     var dot:Particle = new Particle();
     dot.x = hero.mc.x;
     dot.y = hero.mc.y-15;
     dot.alpha = Math.random() * .8 + .2;
     dot.scaleX = dot.scaleY = Math.random() * .8 + .2;
     var xMovement:Number = Math.random() * 8 - 4;
     var yMovement:Number = Math.random() * 8 - 4;
     particleArray.push(dot);
     gamelevel.addChild(dot);
     
     if (particleArray.length >= maxParticles) {
      gamelevel.removeChild(particleArray.shift());
     }
     
     dot.addEventListener(Event.ENTER_FRAME,moveParticle);
     
     function moveParticle()
     {    
      dot.x += xMovement;
      dot.y += yMovement;
     }
     
     
     
    }

```

Cheers