Who are the masoretes are they priest or scribes or authors or teachers?

The Masoretes were Jewish scribes and scholars active between the 6th and 10th centuries CE, primarily in the land of Israel and Babylonia. Their main role was to preserve and transmit the Hebrew Bible by developing a system of vocalization and cantillation marks, ensuring accurate pronunciation and interpretation of the text. While they were not priests or religious teachers in the traditional sense, their work was crucial for the preservation of Jewish scripture and tradition.