What happens to the text in functions.php file outside of the php enclosure?

Question

I have a very basic question.

In the functions.php file of a theme, what happens to the text that is outside a function and outside the <?php ?> tags? Can I place notes before and after the functions without commenting it and without affecting the system? Or should I at least enclose the out-of-php text in html comments?

For example:

comment/note/reference text
<?php
function my_function() {
code;
return results;
}
?>
more comment/note/reference text
<?php
function my_function_2() {
code;
return results;
}
?>
more comment/note/reference text

cheers,
Gregory

Answer 1

It will probably throw a 'Headers already sent' error/warning and cause a lot of trouble to everything.