An axiom is a statement that is accepted without the need for additional proof. Axioms are self-evident statements. Axioms are used as the basis for putting forward assertions, building theories, putting forth arguments, and putting together frameworks.
Let us look at some examples of axioms. Blood flows inside the body of a living human being. The English language comprises of 26 alphabets, of which 5 alphabets are vowels. There are ten single digits. Africa is a continent. All of these statements are universally accepted truths and can be used as the basis for further assertions.
While axioms as constructs are commonly used in the fields of mathematics and logic, and rarely referred to in software testing, it is important to understand the role of axioms in software testing.
Axioms identify that which is already given or self-evident and forms the foundation on which assertions are built that will be the subject or focus of the testing effort.
One of the things to determine early on is what are the implicit aspects of the software under test. What aspects of the software can be considered as given? For when you are able to conscientiously establish the axioms, you can determine the areas of focus for the purposes of testing, the ones that require to be put through tests in order to provide proof of observed behavior.
Testing is done to provide proof of observed behavior.