Axiomatic semantics is a formal approach to defining the meaning of programming languages through logical assertions. It uses a set of axioms and inference rules to describe how the state of a program changes during execution. This method allows for reasoning about program correctness by establishing preconditions and postconditions for various statements. In axiomatic semantics, each statement in a program is associated with logical formulas that express its effects. This framework was notably developed by C.A.R. Hoare, who introduced Hoare logic, which provides a systematic way to prove that a program meets its specifications.